SCCT Virtual Exhibitor Code of Conduct

By participating in an SCCT virtual event, exhibitor personnel agree to comply with SCCT’s meetings code of conduct, which helps ensure a safe environment, conducive to the discussion of evidenced-based, balanced scientific and clinical discussion.

Attendees agree to be excellent to each other, show empathy and help make our online space safe for relevant discussion. SCCT is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, experience, or religion (or lack thereof)  or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, parties, Twitter and other online media (View SCCT’s social media disclaimer).

Participants violating this code may be sanctioned or expelled from SCCT events without a refund at the discretion of the organizers, and appropriate legal action will be taken against violators where applicable.

SCCT Virtual Exhibit Rules and Regulations

Agreement to the Rules and Regulations

The following rules and regulations governing the Virtual Exposition under the auspices of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) are part of the Exhibit Application and Contract and constitute a binding contract between the Exhibitor and SCCT. They have been formatted  in the best interest of the Exhibitor, and we ask full cooperation of the Exhibitor in their observance. Any detail not specified is subject to decision by SCCT. Exhibitors accept responsibility for in forming all of their employees of these conditions and agree that they will abide by them also.

Enforcement of Rules and Regulations

As a condition for exhibiting, each exhibitor shall agree that they, their employees and their agents will observe all SCCT policies and regulations. SCCT reserves the right to restrict and/or dismiss at any time any exhibit materials or virtual display that SCCT deems undesirable.

Liability 

Each exhibitor agrees to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless SCCT and PRG Inc. and their officers, directors, agents and employees from any claims, liability, damages or expenses asserted against them or incurred by them as a result of or in connection with, any perceived damage arising out of or in any way connected with negligence, wrongful acts, or breach of contract by the exhibitor, its agents, or employees.

It is further understood and agreed that SCCT shall in no event be liable to an exhibitor for any loss of profits, sales, business opportunities, or  any other type of director consequential damages alleged to be due from breach of this contract. It is understood and agreed that the sole liability of SCCT to any exhibitor for any breach of this contract shall be for the refund of all amounts paid by the exhibitor pursuant to this contract as an exclusive remedy.

Application for space

The application for a virtual booth and the official notice of assignment and upload instructions constitutes a contract for the rights to use the virtual webpage allotted. A completed application for space with deposit and all requested information must be received by prior to placement.

Exhibit booth representation

SCCT recommends having staff on login to the virtual meeting to monitor the program, interactive sessions and your virtual exhibit booth to respond to queries.

Selling of products and services

The purpose of virtual exhibiting is to further the education of meeting attendees through online displays and demonstrations of products and services. Sales and order taking are permitted provided all transactions are conducted in a manner consistent with the professional nature of the meeting. SCCT reserves the right to restrict sales activities that it deems inappropriate or unprofessional. 

Attendee contact list

SCCT does not supply the contact information of its attendees.

Educational events in exhibit booths

Exhibiting companies must inform SCCT, in writing, of all in-person or online educational events offered concurrent with the meeting program. Notification letters must include a description of the event identifying content, date, time, format, and names of physicians involved in the delivery of the educational content.

Cancellation of exposition

In the event of cancellation of the SCCT2020 virtual meeting for reasons beyond SCCT’s control, exhibitors and SCCT have no further obligations to each other, and SCCT management shall determine an equitable basis for the refund of such portion of exhibit fees as is possible, after due consideration of expenditures and commitments already made. 

Industry guidelines

The purpose of the SCCT virtual exposition is to allow companies an opportunity to showcase their products and services for healthcare professionals on a dedicated section of the online meeting platform. Adherence to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support is mandatory. Standard 4.1 states, Arrangements for commercial exhibits or advertisements cannot influence planning or interfere with the presentation, nor can they be a condition of the provision of commercial support for CME activities. Standard 4.2 further states that Live (staffed exhibits, presentations) or enduring (printed or electronic advertisements) promotional activities must be kept separate from CME.

a) Virtual exhibit fees are separate and distinct from educational grants. (They are not considered commercial support.)

b) Virtual exhibit fees are set by SCCT for each activity prior to solicitation and are standardized for that activity; SCCT may set different fees for depending on uploads and exhibit page features and for industry, not-for-profit organizations/foundations and publishers.

c) The virtual exhibit hall section of the meeting platform is separate from the scientific program, as commercial exhibits must not interfere or in any way compete with the learning experience prior to, during, or immediately after the activity.

d) Commercial interest (pharmaceutical/industry) representatives may login and attend CME/CE program activities at the discretion of SCCT for the direct purpose of the representatives' own education; however, they may not engage in sales or marketing activities while in program presentation section of the meeting platform or within the interactive networking sessions. If a representative wants credit for attending the course, he/she must pay the full SCCT2020 virtual meeting registration fee. Complimentary attendance will not be linked to offering commercial support.

ACCME Standard for Commercial Support 4.1.

Exhibitors are reminded of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations on the promotion of investigational and pre-approved drugs and devices. Exhibitors are also cautioned about FDA prohibition of promoting approved drugs for unapproved purposes.

Exhibitors must comply with the standards established by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (www.accme.org), the American Medical Association's Ethical Opinions on Continuing Medical Education and Gifts to Physicians (www.ama-assn.org), the Food and Drug Administration regulations regarding industry-supported scientific and educational activities (www.fda.gov), the revised PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals (www.phrma.org), and the revised AdvaMed Code (www.advamed.org).