The following policies were outlined for attendees of the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting, February 12-16, in San Francisco.
ADA Request
AAOS will consider the requests of persons with disabilities for reasonable modifications of policies, practices and procedures or for auxiliary aids and services where necessary to provide access to AAOS facilities, events, services and products. AAOS encourages that such requests be made as soon as possible to enhance AAOS’ ability to accommodate the requests. All such requests for the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting should be submitted here by January 22, 2024. For onsite requests, please visit the Academy Headquarters Office, Room 105. For more information, email us at meeting@aaos.org.
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment
AAOS prohibits harassment or discrimination in any form by or against an employee, exhibitor, vendor or attendee. The AAOS Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedures document is available by contacting AAOS at meeting@aaos.org or at www.aaos.org/antiharassmentpolicy.
Disclaimer
The material presented at the Annual Meeting has been made available by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for educational purposes only. This material is not intended to represent the only, nor necessarily best, method or procedure appropriate for the medical situations discussed, but rather is intended to present an approach, view, statement, or opinion of the faculty which may be helpful to others who face similar situations. The AAOS disclaims any and all liability for injury or other damages resulting to any individual attending a session and for any and all claims which may arise out of the use of the techniques demonstrated therein by such individuals, whether these claims shall be asserted by a physician, an entity or any other person.
Event Cancellation
AAOS may elect to cancel the Annual Meeting due to circumstances beyond our control, such as disaster, severe weather, pandemic disease, civil commotion or government laws or regulations. In the event of such cancellation, all Annual Meeting registrants will be notified by email at the address provided in the AAOS database; and registration fees will be refunded in full. Other costs incurred by the registrant, such as airline or hotel penalties, are the responsibility of the registrant.
Family Badge and Children at the Meeting
AAOS members receive one complimentary family badge that may be used by a spouse, significant other, or immediate family member (not an active medical professional). You may pre-register a family member during online registration or on-site. All Family Badge recipients must be accompanied by the registered AAOS member and present an ID to receive a family badge.
Family Badge attendees 16 years and older have access to the following:
- Academy Hall
- Industry Exhibits
- Your Academy/Guest Speaker
Family Badge attendees under 16 have access to Academy Hall only, providing they are not disruptive to surrounding activities.
Please note: Family Badge attendees will not have access to any educational sessions or events.
FDA Statement
Some drugs or medical devices demonstrated at the Annual Meeting have been cleared by the FDA for specific purposes only or have not been cleared by the FDA. The FDA has stated that it is the responsibility of the physician to determine the FDA clearance status of each drug or medical device he or she wishes to use in clinical practice. AAOS policy provides that “off label” uses of a drug or medical device may be described in AAOS’s CME activities so long as the “off label” use of the drug or medical device is also specifically disclosed (i.e. it must be disclosed that the FDA has not cleared the drug or device for the described purpose). Any drug or medical device is being used “off label” if the described use is not set forth on the product’s current label.
Use of Geographic Location
AAOS mobile apps use geographic data to enhance user experience by providing direction and messaging for key events.
Image Capture
By attending and participating in events and activities held during the Annual Meeting, attendees grant AAOS (and its employees and agents) permission to capture, retain, and utilize the attendees’ image, likeness, voice, and actions, whether captured live or recorded, in any format or medium. Any such images, voices or likeness captured during the Annual Meeting may be used for display, exhibition, publication, or reproduction in any medium or context for any purpose, including, but not limited to, commercial or promotional purposes, without further notice, authorization, or compensation.
Non-Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted in public areas such as restaurants, hotel lobbies and the convention center.
Presentation of Fraudulent Research
The Central Program Committee makes every attempt to ensure that the research activities and findings presented in the scientific program are genuine and valid. It should be understood, however, that it is not possible to vet each and every study that is presented during the Annual Meeting. The abstracts of presentations submitted for grading are rated by qualified and expert graders. In some instances, the paper presentation or poster may not reflect its related abstract submitted six months earlier. The Central Program Committee considers these instances to be errors in the presenters’ judgment when they occur. Presentation of fraudulent research violates the AAOS Mandatory Standards of Professionalism on Research and Academic Responsibilities. If you feel you have witnessed a knowingly fraudulent presentation, please address your concern to a member of the Central Program Committee or Academy staff. The Central Program Committee will review the matter and may determine the response, if any is needed. AAOS reserves the right to bar the submission of future abstracts from the speaker(s) and/or to publish a retraction of the abstract in AAOS Now or other AAOS publications or communications. Any AAOS member may also file a grievance against another AAOS member under the AAOS Professional Compliance Program. Based upon the recommendation of the Committee on Professionalism and the Judiciary Committee, the AAOS Board of Directors may determine to issue a letter of concern, or to reprimand, censure, suspend, or expel the AAOS Fellow or Member who presented the fraudulent research. For more information on the Professional Compliance Program, visit aaos.org/profcomp or email professionalcompliance@aaos.org.
Privacy Policy – Use of Personal Information
Annual Meeting registration lists, including the medical registrant’s name, postal mailing address, and phone number, are available for sale to exhibitors in advance of and after the Annual Meeting. While registering for Annual Meeting, medical registrants may choose to opt out of the distribution of their name, postal mailing address, and phone number.
Personal Information, including the medical registrant’s name, postal mailing address, phone number, email address, hospital affiliation and practice focus, is available to Annual Meeting exhibitors and service providers through a lead retrieval system. While registering for Annual Meeting, medical registrants may choose to opt out of the distribution of their personal information though the lead retrieval system.
AAOS, its third-party vendors or service providers may collect, store and use Personal Information to provide AAOS products and services or to improve the user experience at AAOS events and with AAOS products and services. For additional information, please refer to the entire AAOS Privacy Policy by visiting www.aaos.org/privacy.
Private Meeting
The AAOS Annual Meeting is a private meeting. The AAOS reserves the right to control meeting space and may, at its sole discretion, remove persons from the meeting who are not registered, who do not meet attendance requirements or who cause disruptions.
Refund Policy
All requests for refunds (registration, courses, and/or specialty sessions) must be received on or before January 12, 2024. Email your request to: aaosmeeting@xpressreg.net. The Exhibitor refund policy is available in the Exhibitor Rules and Regulations or contact AAOS at exhibits@aaos.org.
Reproduction Policy
AAOS reserves any and all its rights, including intellectual property rights, to materials presented at the Annual Meeting, including Posters. Reproductions of any kind or format, by any person or entity, without the prior written permission of AAOS, are strictly prohibited. Persons violating this policy may be escorted from the meeting.
Selling and Marketing Activities
- Selling and/or marketing activities are reserved exclusively for registered exhibitors and can only be conducted from an exhibit booth space or other areas as approved by AAOS.
- Annual Meeting attendees that plan to sell and/or market products and services at the Annual Meeting can only do so from an exhibit booth in the Industry Exhibit Hall. To secure a paid exhibit booth space, visit aaos.org/exhibits for information.
- At the sole discretion of AAOS, attendees found in violation of this requirement may be escorted from the meeting and may have all meeting privileges revoked without refund of fees paid.
- No unapproved surveys, handouts, or literature may be distributed at the Annual Meeting.