Ethics and Policy

Association Between Academic Medical Center Pharmaceutical Detailing Policies and Physician Prescribing

Journal Publication /

This paper investigates the question: “How did physician prescribing behavior change after US academic medical centers implemented policies that limited pharmaceutical salesperson detailing?”   Abstract Importance In an effort to regulate physician conflicts of interest, some US academic medical centers (AMCs) enacted policies restricting pharmaceutical representative sales visits to physicians (known as detailing) between 2006 […]

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Blinding prosecutors to defendants’ race: A policy proposal to reduce unconscious bias in the criminal justice system.

Journal Publication /

Abstract Racial minorities are disproportionately imprisoned in the United States. This disparity is unlikely to be due solely to differences in criminal behavior. Behavioral science research has documented that prosecutors harbor unconscious racial biases. These unconscious biases play a role whenever prosecutors exercise their broad discretion, such as in choosing what crimes to charge and

Blinding prosecutors to defendants’ race: A policy proposal to reduce unconscious bias in the criminal justice system. Read More »

Conflicted advice and second opinions: Benefits, but unintended consequences.

Journal Publication /

Abstract Second opinions have been advocated as an antidote to bias in advice when primary advisors have conflicts of interest. In four experiments, we demonstrate how primary advisors alter their advice due to knowledge of the presence of a second advisor. We show that advisors give more biased advice and adopt a profit-maximizing frame when

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Investigations before examinations: This is how we practice medicine here.

Journal Publication /

Summary Based on a personal experience, in this paper I discuss the impact of investigations-before-examinations on healthcare costs, patient safety, and the quality of care. Unnecessary tests, such as x-rays, can lead to a cascade of further investigations due to incidental findings and contribute to cumulative radiation exposure.  I explore the power dynamics within the

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Morning People Are Less Ethical at Night and Evening People are Less Ethical in the Morning.

Popular Press /

This study in sheds light on the ebb and flow of ethical behavior throughout the day. Contrary to the idea of fixed “good” or “bad” people, we found that ethical conduct fluctuates based on energy levels and the time of day. Notably, even those who are usually ethical may succumb to unethical behavior when fatigued.

Morning People Are Less Ethical at Night and Evening People are Less Ethical in the Morning. Read More »

Nothing to declare: Mandatory and voluntary disclosure leads advisors to avoid conflicts of interest.

Journal Publication /

Abstract Professionals face conflicts of interest when they have a personal interest in giving biased advice. Mandatory disclosure—informing consumers of the conflict—is a widely adopted strategy in numerous professions, such as medicine, finance, and accounting. Prior research has shown, however, that such disclosures have little impact on consumer behavior, and can backfire by leading advisors

Nothing to declare: Mandatory and voluntary disclosure leads advisors to avoid conflicts of interest. Read More »

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