Harvard doctors punished over pay

Officials at Harvard and Mass. General released the letter to the Globe, but would not answer questions about the probe. Biederman, Spencer, Wilens, and their lawyers did not return phone calls and e-mails. Grassley’s office did not return calls seeking comment.

Physicians are required to disclose payments from pharmaceutical and medical device companies so that hospital and university officials can police potential conflicts of interest that may create bias in research or in the treatment of patients, or the appearance of bias.

Grassley’s investigation sparked the Mass. General and Harvard inquiries.

The three psychiatrists apologized in their letter for the “unfavorable attention that this matter has brought to these two institutions.’’ They called their mistakes “honest ones’’ but said they “now recognize that we should have devoted more time and attention to the detailed requirements of these policies and to their underlying objectives.’’

They said the institutions imposed remedial actions, requiring them to refrain from all paid industry-sponsored outside activities for one year, with an additional two-year monitoring period during which they must obtain approval before engaging in paid activities. They were also required to undergo unspecified additional training and suffer “a delay of consideration for promotion or advancement.’’

Physicians said it is difficult to know if the sanctions are appropriate without knowing the Harvard and Mass. General findings.