scholarly journals Perhaps the Time Has Come

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 613-615
Author(s):  
Alan BR Thomson

A conflict of interest occurs in a situation in which professional judgment regarding a primary interest, such as research, education or patient care, may be unduly influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain or personal prestige. Conflicts of interest exist in every walk of life, including medicine and science. There is nothing inherently unethical in finding oneself in a conflict of interest. Rather, the key questions are whether one recognizes the conflict, and how one deals with it. Strategies include disclosing the conflict, establishing a system of review and authorization, and prohibiting the activities that lead to the conflict.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 102-116
Author(s):  
Emiliano Di Carlo

The innumerable cases of opportunistic behavior by directors, managers, and employees, primarily the various forms of corruption, have shown that neglecting conflicts of interest (CoI) situations can have important negative effects on the organizations involved, undermining, in some cases, their survival and development, as well as creating harmful consequences for stakeholders and the wider community. In proposing remedies to deal with CoI scholars underline the importance of assessing it. However, this aspect has been not investigated adequately. Using the literature on CoI and, in particular, the framework proposed by Thompson (2009) for the medical sector, the objective of the paper is to outline the elements required to assess the extent of the risk of CoI in organizations. Our framework considers the following two elements: a) the probability that the secondary interest may interfere, even if only apparently, with the primary interest of the organization; b) the seriousness of the damage and/or moral unacceptability of the mere appearance of improper behavior. The assessment also allows understanding not only what the causes are, that can increase the probability of interference of the secondary interests, but also the factors that feed these interests, suggesting the most suitable remedies. The analysis has several implications for researchers, practitioners, and regulators.


Author(s):  
Dr. Vandana Kumar Dhingra

According to Wikipedia, ‘Çonflict of interest’ is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgement or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest' [1]. It may be broadly described as conditions which may influence one’s judgement in a situation (primary interest) for some other gain (secondary interest), this may be financial or non-financial . It is of importance to understand that having a secondary gain is not wrong but these gains should not be illegal. This pertains to delivery of patient care, teaching and research in the medical profession.


Author(s):  
Sunčana Roksandić ◽  
Richard S. Saver

This chapter evaluates provider conflicts of interest in healthcare. Healthcare providers and institutions typically balance an array of competing interests, such as economic gain, the desire to favor colleagues, to advance in one's academic or professional career, or the needs of other patients. Conflicts of interest pervade most healthcare systems and pose considerable risks, both systemic and patient-focused, including increasing costs, harming patients, limiting choice, biasing publication decisions, and eroding trust in healthcare providers and institutions. A key element common to most interpretations of conflicts of interest is the provider's exposure to undue influence from a secondary interest. A second key element is that a conflict of interest can occur when there is merely the perception of undue influence by a secondary interest. Perception that a healthcare provider's independence has been compromised leads to reputational risk and undermines the trust of other stakeholders.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Kent

Conflicts of Interest occur when there is a risk that a primary interest of an individual or agency might be unduly influenced by other incompatible interests. The U.S. government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC. supports feeding with infant formula on a large scale, providing more than half the formula used in the U.S. at no cost to the families. That is a conflict of interest because promoting the use of infant formula benefits corporations while putting infants at significantly higher risk to their health when compared with breastfeeding.  


2019 ◽  
pp. 111-124
Author(s):  
Barbara B. Biesecker ◽  
Kathryn F. Peters ◽  
Robert Resta

Conflict of interest (COI) can be defined as a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest (e.g., a patient’s best interests) will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest (e.g., financial or professional gain for the counselor). Although conscious and intended unethical behavior resulting from a COI, most COIs occur at a subconscious level and are a normal aspect of human psychology and behavior. It can be very difficult for any professional to recognize a COI, and even more difficult for highly ethical people to realize that they may be making unethical choices. As such, COI is a critical professional issue that is largely inevitable and, like countertransference, needs to be managed, ideally with the help of professional supervision and/or a disinterested third party. The National Society of Genetic Counselors offers resources for addressing COI and its Code of Ethics provides a professional ethos and guidelines for helping to guide ethical behavior for the practice and profession of genetic counseling.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-149
Author(s):  
Aurelia Teodora Drăghici

SummaryTheme conflicts of interest is one of the major reasons for concern local government, regional and central administrative and criminal legal implications aiming to uphold the integrity and decisions objectively. Also, most obviously, conflicts of interest occur at the national level where political stakes are usually highest, one of the determining factors of this segment being the changing role of the state itself, which creates opportunities for individual gain through its transformations.


Author(s):  
Katherine Severi

Ralston et al present an analysis of policy actor responses to a draft World Health Organization (WHO) tool to prevent and manage conflicts of interest (COI) in nutrition policy. While the Ralston et al study is focussed explicitly on food and nutrition, the issues and concepts addressed are relevant also to alcohol policy debates and present an important opportunity for shared learning across unhealthy commodity industries in order to protect and improve population health. This commentary addresses the importance of understanding how alcohol policy actors – especially decision-makers – perceive COI in relation to alcohol industry engagement in policy. A better understanding of such perceptions may help to inform the development of guidelines to identify, manage and protect against risks associated with COI in alcohol policy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2110088
Author(s):  
Rachel Thompson ◽  
Zoe Paskins ◽  
Barry G. Main ◽  
Thaddeus Mason Pope ◽  
Evelyn C. Y. Chan ◽  
...  

Background More stringent policies for addressing conflicts of interest have been implemented around the world in recent years. Considering the value of revisiting conflict of interest quality standards set by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaboration, we sought to review evidence relevant to 2 questions: 1) What are the effects of different strategies for managing conflicts of interest? and 2) What are patients’ perspectives on conflicts of interest? Methods We conducted a narrative review of English-language articles and abstracts from 2010 to 2019 that reported relevant quantitative or qualitative research. Results Of 1743 articles and 118 abstracts identified, 41 articles and 2 abstracts were included. Most evidence on the effects of conflict of interest management strategies pertained only to subsequent compliance with the management strategy. This evidence highlighted substantial noncompliance with prevailing requirements. Evidence on patient perspectives on conflicts of interest offered several insights, including the existence of diverse views on the acceptability of conflicts of interest, the salience of conflict of interest type and monetary value to patients, and the possibility that conflict of interest disclosure could have unintended effects. We identified no published research on the effects of IPDAS Collaboration conflict of interest quality standards on patient decision making or outcomes. Limitations Because we did not conduct a systematic review, we may have missed some evidence relevant to our review questions. In addition, our team did not include patient partners. Conclusions The findings of this review have implications for the management of conflicts of interest not only in patient decision aid development but also in clinical practice guideline development, health and medical research reporting, and health care delivery.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-846
Author(s):  
Raymond S. Duff ◽  
Daniel S. Rowe ◽  
Frederic P. Anderson

The problems of a random sample of 25 children visiting a general pediatric clinic were physical (12%), psychosocial (36%), and a combination of these (52%). In terms of management, these problems were simple (20%), moderately complicated (20%), very complicated (24%), and extremely complicated (36%). The visit resulted in major contributions to problem solving in 24%, minor contributions in 20%, and no contribution in 56%. Students rated the teaching exercise as good in 48%, mediocre in 20%, and poor in 32%. Students and families were least satisfied when the children's difficulties were psychosocial in nature. Such problems usually were not given serious consideration in the clinic. Pediatric specialists were occupied with diseases of primary concern to them while other pediatricians were unpaid, spent minimal time in the clinic, and had a primary interest in private practice. Under these circumstances, no pediatrician could give more than token interest to the complex physical and psychosocial problems for which help had been sought. This was no match for the service and teaching challenges in the clinic.


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