Patient Disclosure: Consulting Agreements with Orthopaedic Companies
 
Dear Patient:
 
As you prepare for your upcoming surgery, we want to provide you with some information regarding Dr Waldman’s consulting agreements with orthopaedic companies.
 
Dr. Waldman has been active in his career with research and development of new implants and improved surgical instruments and techniques. He has published over twenty scientific papers and helped design knee and hip implants. As part of this work, he has worked under contract with orthopaedic companies, providing consulting services on new products and input on research and development. In addition, Dr. Waldman has given instructional lectures on implants and surgical techniques for other doctors and medical personnel. In return for this time and expertise, Dr. Waldman has been paid a consulting fee.
 
Currently, Dr. Waldman is a paid consultant to Biomet, DJO Surgical and Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics.
 
Our office uses products from this these companies in the care of patients, but also uses similar products from other implant manufacturers. We want to assure you that the selection of which product to use in your care – and the care of all of our patients – is based only on what is best for the patient, not on which company makes the product.
 
Dr Waldman is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, (AAOS) which holds its members to extremely high ethical standards to ensure that even the appearance of a conflict of interest does not jeopardize the trust that patients place in our doctors.
 
AAOS has adopted Standards of Professionalism that require orthopaedic surgeon members to identify and disclose potential conflicts of interest to their patients, the public, and colleagues. These Standards also clearly articulate how and under what circumstances AAOS members may work with and be compensated by industry, as well as the penalties for failure to comply.
 
You can learn more about these Standards of Professionalism at the AAOS website:
http://www.aaos.org/industryrelationships
 
It is important to our office that you are aware of these relationships with implant manufacturers, that our office puts the interests of patients first, and that we are available to answer any questions that you may have.
 
 
Barry J. Waldman, MD
Director, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement
Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics
Clinical Instructor,
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery