NONE: ONLINE-ADS>> MEDICAL WEBMASTERS PLAN AN ORGANIZING MEETING...
ONLINE-ADS>> MEDICAL WEBMASTERS PLAN AN ORGANIZING MEETING...
John Mack (johnmack_at_virsci.com)
Tue, 15 Apr 1997 19:27:32 -0400
I think the members of this list -- especially those who run medical web
sites or who buy and sell advertising to such sites -- would be interested
in the following meeting. More news about the MEDWEBMASTERS-L group and
this meeting can be found at http://pharminfo.com/conference/MWM-L.html.
MEDICAL WEBMASTERS PLAN AN ORGANIZING MEETING IN WASHINGTON D.C.
LEVITTOWN, PA and WASHINGTON, DC -- VirSci Corporation, owner and operator
of PharmInfoNet (www.pharminfo.com) and Fox, Bennet & Turner, a Washington,
D.C. law firm, will host a meeting of influential medical webmasters and
other medical Internet developers in Washington, D.C. June 10 and 11, 1997.
The purpose of this meeting will be to develop an independent and voluntary
"code of conduct" for medical information on the Internet as well as to
discuss the establishment of a new trade association.
"Setting standards would be good for advertisers because it would help them
decide which sites to support and relieve them of the task of monitoring
sites," says John Mack, president of VirSci. "It would be good for medical
Internet publishers because they would set the standards instead of the FDA
or each advertiser, a situation which could result in multiple conflicting
standards. Finally, it would be good for readers who are searching for
credible medical information on the Internet."
The mailing list-style discussion group, MEDWEBMASTERS-L -- run by VirSci
-- has been considering issues raised at the October 1996 FDA public
meeting on Internet advertising and promotion. Subscribers to
MEDWEBMASTERS-L, among other specifically invited guests, will participate
in the face-to-face meeting in order to determine what standards for
Internet medical publishing need to be developed and what role, if any, the
FDA should play in regulating medical information on the Internet.
"Unless companies come up with a credible model for self-regulation, FDA
will likely impose its own model," commented Mark Boulding, a partner with
Fox, Bennett & Turner. "In the past, government has often reacted to new
media by developing restrictive rules that stifle innovation and
creativity. Now is the time for companies to protect what is good about
the Internet by taking an active role in the regulatory process."
Also on the agenda is the possible formation of an association of medical
webmasters dedicated to advancing educational and policy goals.
Attending the meeting will be representatives from European groups such as
the British Medical Internet Association (BMIA) and the Health On the Net
Foundation (Geneva), which have already established "codes of conduct" for
medical Internet publishing in Europe. Hopefully, this "summit" segment of
the meeting will lead to greater collaboration among similar groups
worldwide and help determine the need and parameters for a formal worldwide
association to promote the standards and represent the industry.
VIRSCI CORPORATION is a medical communications and pharmaceutical marketing
company based in Levittown, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. VirSci
provides a broad range of services to the healthcare industry, including
web development, pharmaceutical Internet advertising and innovative
marketing tools such as the Electronic Free Phone Card. Its premier drug
information site, PharmInfoNet (www.pharminfo.com) is an award-winning
entry point for health professionals seeking quality medical information on
the Internet.
FOX, BENNETT & TURNER Fox, Bennett & Turner is a Washington DC law firm
specializing in health care legal and policy issues.
# # #
For more information, please contact:
John Mack
President
VirSci Corporation
(215) 949-3805
johnmack_at_virsci.com
Mark E. Boulding
Fox, Bennett & Turner
(202) 778-2382
mboulding_at_FBT.COM
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John Mack johnmack_at_virsci.com 1-215-949-3805 FAX: 215-949-2594
President, VirSci Corporation www.virsci.com
2761 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA 19056 USA
Owner/Developer of PharmInfoNet (http://pharminfo.com/)
MODERATOR: CLINICAL-TRIALS, CARDIO-CONSULT, MEDWEBMASTERS-L
(LISTSERV_at_SHRSYS.HSLC.ORG)
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