"We do not intend any part of the contract to be construed as a gag clause," he said.

"By having a gag clause, it sweetens the pot," he said.

Doctors and consumer groups denounce such restrictions as "gag clauses."

Such gag clauses unethically interfere in the doctor-patient relationship, the association said.

In fact, they will not even confirm whether a gag clause was part of Wheelon's severance agreement.

The extent of such restrictions, or gag clauses, is in dispute, but some contracts clearly impose them.

To my dismay, gag clauses are becoming more common.

The extent of gag clauses is in dispute.

The Senate version of the bill had no such ban on "gag clauses."

Such restrictions, often known as "gag clauses," have generated a political uproar in the last year.