Cleveland Clinic discloses doctors' business ties

Move comes amid growing concern against medical conflicts of interest

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updated 1:09 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2008

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Clinic says it is publicizing the business ties its 1,800 doctors and researchers have with drug companies and device makers.

The move, announced Wednesday, is the clinic's latest effort to guard against medical conflicts of interest and follows a rising national debate in recent years on the issue.

The clinic is posting on its Web site the names of its physicians and researchers and the companies with which they have collaborations. Information includes whether clinic staff have an equity interest in a company, a right to royalties or a consulting relationship that pays more than $5,000 a year.

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Joseph Hahn, clinic chief of staff, says he believes the clinic is the first academic medical center in the nation to make the disclosures.

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