If it were not for the collaboration of healthcare practitioners and medical technology manufacturers, many of the life-saving and life-extending medical technologies used daily in hospitals and doctors offices around the world would not exist. Increasingly, these relationships are reaching beyond national and cultural boundaries, creating an innovation process that is truly global.

Those of us in the healthcare industry understand how valuable these relationships are, not only for continued innovation, but also for improved patient care. Unfortunately these critical relationships are too often misunderstood. That is why both the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the largest American medical technology association representing medical device and diagnostics companies, and the European Medical Technology Industry Association (Eucomed), the voice of the medical technology industry in Europe, strongly encourage companies to commit to openness, transparency and high ethical standards by adopting the Codes of Ethics and Business Practices each association has had in place for several years.

However, we could not ignore the increasing need to harmonize these codes of ethics across multiple countries. By coordinating industry ethical standards across international borders, we increase public confidence in the appropriateness of these relationships, which are crucial for both patient safety and continued medical innovation.

After many months of work, the two associations developed what is now known as the Joint Trans-Atlantic Statement on Ethical Interactions between Medical Technology Companies and Healthcare Professionals. This statement shares many of the core principles outlined in each association's individual Code of Ethics such as promoting legitimacy, transparency, independence and appropriateness of relationships between companies and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

The trans-Atlantic agreement was signed by John Wilkinson, chief executive of Eucomed, and I during a ceremony held at the 2010 International Medical Device Industry Compliance Conference in Berlin in May. The signing of this trans-Atlantic statement by AdvaMed and Eucomed, two of the largest medical technology industry trade associations in the world, shows our industry's unwavering commitment to develop a cohesive international approach to interactions between medical technology companies and healthcare providers.

Christine Tarrajat, director-general of the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association (EDMA), has also signed on to this statement, and we urge other associations to do the same. By working to extend our collective ethical standards on a global level, we ensure the integrity and increase transparency into of these relationships and demonstrate their critical role in continued medical innovation and improved patient outcomes.

• Under this agreement, AdvaMed, Eucomed, and EDMA commit to working together to:

• Promote ethical interactions among companies and HCPs by encouraging companies to adopt compliance programs and policies consistent with the AdvaMed and/or Eucomed Codes.

• Provide guidance to the medical technology industry at large on ethical business conduct relating to companies' interactions with HCPs.

• Support education and compliance of companies with all applicable laws, regulations or professional codes (including national association codes) that may impose more stringent requirements, relating to companies' interactions with HCPs.

• Work together to advance ethical collaborations consistent with the AdvaMed and Eucomed Codes globally, through regular communication, joint policies (where appropriate), joint activities, and other appropriate collaborations.

Ethical behavior is imperative for the continuation of professional collaborations that ensure the safe and effective use of medical technology and fuel to the ongoing development and advancement of these life-changing innovations. Our commitment to advance compliance globally will ensure the continued appropriateness of these relationships, as well as preserve independent decision-making by HCPs that is in the best interest of the patient.