Conflict of interest refers to a “a set of conditions in which professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as a patient's welfare or the validity of research) is unduly influenced by a secondary interest (such as financial gain) [1].” Although most of the literature and commentary on this subject have focused on financial considerations, these are not the only interests that may affect physician behavior. Other potent influences include the desire for professional recognition and promotion, the ability to successfully compete for funding in the research environment, a physician's interest in the patient's well-being (in contrast to that of the community or employer), or even simply the quest for knowledge. Over the last two decades, complex relationships between industry, investigators, and academic institutions have evolved inevitably resulting in various ethical challenges. In this paper, we present an overview of the problems arising from such interactions and...
Keywords
Medical Education Academic Medical Center Continue Medical Education Potential Conflict Professional JudgmentReferences
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