Independence does not require qualified work to be unpaid. It requires payment to be independent of which treatment is recommended, which provider is selected or which outcome is found.
The IAGS approach therefore requires a clear connection between the service, payer and remuneration.
Disclosure alone is insufficient when a conflict is incompatible with an independent role. In that case, another person must be appointed.
Remuneration overview
| Participant | Potential basis for remuneration | Excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Adviser | Their advisory service | Treatment commissions and selection bonuses |
| Treating physician | Medical treatment and care | Presenting own follow-up as an external review |
| Outcome reviewer | Their review service | Assessment bonuses and own revision business |
| Coordination | Openly identified administrative services | Concealed recommendation fees |
| Society | Formally agreed institutional funding | Shares of treatment revenue and sale of positive assessment decisions |
Before engagement
Before engagement, establish who commissions and pays for which service; whether treatment, provider selection or assessment changes the fee; and what other relationships exist.
Which relationships matter?
Relevant interests may arise from direct fees, shareholdings, affiliated providers, consultancy work, manufacturer relationships or personal connections.
Assessment considers both whether an interest was disclosed and whether the person can responsibly undertake an independent engagement despite it.
Funding principle
Funding enables the Society’s work. It purchases neither influence over a standard nor a positive assessment.
The Society receives no share of treatment revenue or individual medical engagements. Higher funding does not confer greater weight in professional decisions. An assessment fee pays for the assessment process, not a successful result.
Transparency of the Society
The same principles apply to the Society itself. Personal connections, significant funding, support in kind and relationships with other organisations should be published transparently.
Funding confers no right to influence professional decisions. Organisations connected to the founders receive no preferential assessment status.
Activity and financial reports
For information about the Society’s activities, funding and relevant relationships, contact [email protected].