ASGE Releases White Paper on Guidelines for 'Live' Endoscopy Demonstrations

Live endoscopy demonstrations, or courses that include demonstrations of endoscopic techniques in real time, can provide valuable educational opportunities, but can also raise questions regarding patient safety and ethics, according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. To address these concerns, the Society's CME Programs Committee released a set of new guidelines for live demonstrations.

The new guidelines, published in GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, cover seven areas: host responsibilities, patient preparation, physical resources, procedure standards, educational goals and processes, industry participation and quality control and oversight.

The guidelines require all course participations to be compliant with CME regulations, including conflict of interest resolutions, as well as the creation of patient ombudsman, who serves as an advocate for the patient. They also call for informing the patient that they will be part of the live demonstration and adherence to the proper standard of care during the procedure.

Requirements for audio/visual equipment and stated educational goals are also included in the updated guidelines, and ASGE notes that physicians performing the procedure should be qualified.

Read the complete updated guidelines for live endoscopy (pdf).