Publications
Publications
- January 2001 (Revised October 2002)
- HBS Case Collection
The American Medical Association-Sunbeam Deal (A): Serpent on the Staff Meets Chainsaw Al
By: Ashish Nanda and Kimberly A. Haddad
Abstract
Facing dwindling membership and looking to increase its revenue, the American Medical Association (AMA) signed an endorsement deal with Sunbeam Corp., a leader in the small home appliance industry, in August 1997. In the deal, the AMA would receive significant royalties from Sunbeam in exchange for the use of its seal on Sunbeam's home health-care products. Critics protested that this deal posed a conflict of interest before the AMA. Supporters argued, however, that the deal was a good way for the AMA to ease the association's financial troubles. Furthermore, the deal would be beneficial to patients because it encouraged people to monitor their own health.
Keywords
Citation
Nanda, Ashish, and Kimberly A. Haddad. "The American Medical Association-Sunbeam Deal (A): Serpent on the Staff Meets Chainsaw Al." Harvard Business School Case 801-326, January 2001. (Revised October 2002.)