In recent decades many professional organizations have produced ethical guidelines or position statements on PPII. These documents cover many areas of interactions, from accepting gifts or continuing medical education (CME) support to conducting ethical research collaborations.

The American Medical Association (AMA) responded to public concerns regarding PPII in the 1980's with a code of medical ethics recommending that gifts to physicians should benefit patients, relate to the physician's work and be of minimal value.

Concern about increases in pharmaceutical industry (PI) promotion in training settings led to a 2002 position paper from the Accreditation Committee for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that emphasized the need to separate medical education from PI promotion.

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) has six standards for commercial support of CME activities.

The Association of American Medical Colleges has issued a publication in 2 parts titled Protecting Subjects, Preserving Trust and Promoting Progress.

The evidence of PI influence on medicine and the ensuing concern for professional integrity and patient care resulted in the American College of Physicians – American Society of Internal Medicine producing two ethical position papers. Both papers cover PI gifts to physicians; PI influence on medical education; academic and industry collaboration; and influence on medical professional societies.

In 1994 the Canadian Medical Association published a position paper, “Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry.” Guidelines were developed by the CMA to assist physicians in determining when a relationship with industry is appropriate.