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College of Human Medicine

Conflict of Interest in Medical Education and Student Health Care

Purpose

To outline processes to avoid conflicts of interest between a student’s educational needs and the role of their health care provider(s).

Policy

Medical students from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine work in varied clinical settings and with multiple preceptors. Medical students must not be evaluated by individuals from whom they have received health care services of any kind. Preceptor evaluation forms include the directive for individuals who have provided health care services to a student to not complete any evaluations of that student.

  1. Students will not be assigned for clinical rotations at practices which serve as the primary sites for student health care services in each of our campuses.
  2. Prior to the start of an activity, a preceptor/faculty member who recognizes that they have been assigned a student to whom they have provided health care services must identify to the course director that they require reassignment due to a conflict of interest. The preceptor or faculty member must maintain the student’s patient confidentiality by not disclosing the nature of the conflict of interest, but only that one exists.
  3. A preceptor/faculty member who discovers after working with a student that they have provided care to that student, or who under emergency circumstances provides care to the student after having begun working with them, must contact the course director promptly to arrange for another evaluator for the student. Maintaining the student’s patient confidentiality is critical, and the preceptor/faculty must only disclose that a conflict of interest prevents them evaluating the student.
  4. Prior to the start of an activity, students who realize they have been assigned to an individual who has provided health care to them must contact the appropriate faculty administrator for reassignment. Early or Middle Clinical Experience students must contact the Asst. Dean for Clinical Experiences. Late Clinical Experience students must contact their Community Asst. Dean promptly for reassignment.
  5. If a student recognizes the conflict after reporting to their clinical experience, they must report the conflict to the Asst. Dean at their first opportunity.

In addition, medical students may not participate in the health care of other CHM medical students. If a student is on a service or at a clinical site and learns that the team is providing health care to a fellow medical student, the student must recuse themselves from all care activities involving the other student. This requirement to recuse applies even if the other student grants permission for their involvement.

Individuals responsible for oversight of compliance with this policy:

Clerkship and Course Directors.

Community Assistant Deans and the Assistant Dean for Clinical Experiences.

References

  1. Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Structure and Function of a Medical School – Standards for Accreditation of Medical Education Programs Leading to the MD Degree
  2. UNC School of Medicine – Policy on Conflict of Interest in Student Healthcare and Student Education

Approval

Policy approved by MSU College of Human Medicine Curriculum Committee on July 25, 2023.