The lede:

The American Psychiatric Assn. has appointed a work group to identify the industry money it receives, what the funds pay for and whether to go without them. The Ad Hoc Workgroup on Adapting to Changes in Pharmaceutical Revenue was appointed last spring and is set to report to the APA’s board of trustees in October.

The move comes on the heels of intense news media and congressional scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest posed by drug- and device-makers’ support of clinical researchers, medical education programs and practicing physicians.

The whole shebang.

The lede:

One physician had the social skills of a 2-year-old, said a nurse in an anonymous survey on disruptive behavior published last year. A cardiologist was upset by phone calls and told a nurse it was not her job to think, just follow orders — a squabble that delayed treatment for a patient with a heart attack. On the other hand, a doctor complained about an increasing lack of respect from nurses who frequently challenged or flatly disobeyed clinician orders.

The Joint Commission is calling on hospitals to crack down on “disruptive” health care professionals, over concerns that such behavior impacts patient care. A new commission standard taking effect in January 2009 will require hospital administrators to adopt codes defining disruptive behavior and develop procedures to discipline medical staff and other health professionals who behave badly.

The whole shebang.