Our globally recognised Code of Conduct is at the heart of EPHMRA's commitment to professional excellence. This essential framework provides comprehensive compliance and ethical guidance and offers an international perspective complemented by specific country details. We draw upon a diverse array of codes of practice, consolidating them into a singular, accessible resource for when you need ethical advice at your fingertips from a source you can trust. In our recent member survey, both our industry side members and agency members rated the EPHMRA Code of Conduct as 'highly valued'.
To further support EPHMRA members, we are pleased to offer the EPHMRA Code Enquiry Service, an exclusive benefit specifically for our member companies. This highly regarded service is designed to offer enhanced ethics and compliance support, ensuring that your organisation is well-equipped to navigate any queries related to the EPHMRA Code of Conduct and our AER guidelines. With this valuable resource at your fingertips, you can confidently and clearly navigate your ethical and compliance responsibilities.
What type of queries are received?
We receive multiple queries from members each month, which are quite broad in their nature. To give an example, below are 4 questions the service has received in recent months:
Patient Record Forms in France: "We received a note from our client regarding France and their viewpoint on involving Patient Record Forms for France - can you let us know what the latest guidelines state."
Pre-Launch Project Guidelines: "Based on EPHMRA guidelines, for a pre-launch project, what product related stimulus can / cannot be used in MR in Sweden, Norway, Finland & Denmark?"
Medical Review Requirements: "I am seeking information regarding the review requirements for MR programs across the EU. Specifically, I would like to confirm the types of reviews that are necessary and whether all countries mandate a Medical Reviewer. Could you please direct me to the best contact or any published information on this topic?"
Managing Consent for Young Children: "It's very clear that consent from adult (i.e. legally responsible for child) is always required, I know some countries the definition of when a "young person" can provide their own consent without that of parent is variable. My biggest query is regarding getting explicit consent from the child as well as the legal guardian, how is this managed normally when the child is at an age where there isn't a clear way to obtain their consent? It is very easy to provide an age-appropriate consent avenue assuming the child is of a certain age but for example, do you have any experience on how agencies typically manage consent from the child if it's a 2 or 3-year-old? [sic]
Sounds great! How do I use the Code Enquiry Service?
You can access the Code Enquiry Service via the EPHMRA website - https://www.ephmra.org/form/code-of-conduct-enquiry-form.
Complete the online form and reference which section of the Code your enquiry relates to, and one of our ethics consultants will review your enquiry and respond to you, usually within three working days.
More complex enquiries may take longer, but we'll keep you updated. We may also contact you for further information or clarification so we can respond fully.
We want to emphasise that we cannot address commercial enquiries, and our guidance is not offered as legal advice. For any legal opinions, we encourage you to seek independent professional guidance. Please note that EPHMRA strives to provide accurate information based on our best understanding, but we cannot assume liability for any responses that may be incorrect.
Free to access as part of your membership benefits
As EPHMRA members, we offer this service at no cost and encourage you to take advantage of it! This service helps you maintain professional standards and ensures compliance with the Code of Conduct and local regulations; plus, it plays a vital role in improving our practices.
After your enquiries have been responded to, they may be fully anonymised and incorporated into our FAQs or reviewed by our professional standards working group during the annual Code of Conduct review. Your questions help maintain and uphold industry standards.