Financial Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Research

Financial conflicts of interest in medicine -- what they are and how to deal with them -- constitute one of the most contentious issues in our profession. Organized medicine and its critics have debated whether clinicians should gain financially from their practice in any way other than through their direct fees or salaries for service., and the academic community and its critics have debated whether medical researchers should gain financially from companies whose products they are evaluating. Opinions vary greatly -- from those advocating that all conflicts of interest be proscribed to those arguing for disclosure and caveat emptor to . . .