Continuing medical education (CME) is critically important for physicians to keep abreast of the latest developments in patient care. In response to congressional investigation of questionable pharmaceutical marketing practices of the 1980's, the American Medical Association and six other groups formed the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The ACCME's 1992 “Standards for Commercial Support” sets forth norms that govern the professional relationships between commercial interests and continuing medical education providers. The need for such statements arises from the fact that year after year, the major pharmaceutical companies invest millions to support educational activities developed and certified by accredited CME providers.

The ACCME defines commercial bias as “favoring one product over another in a manner that is perceived to be or intended to advance the commercial interest of the product, device or service that physicians control, use, deploy or manage in the care of patients”. Concerns over the presence of commercial bias in CME have sparked much debate in the academic literature.