Conflict of Interest
Chapter
First Online:
Abstract
Conflicts of interest lead to bias, which in turn leads to compromised research integrity and quality. Conflicts are not binary; that is, they are not simply either present or absent. They can be more or less severe. The severity of a conflict depends on the likelihood that professional decisions made under the relevant circumstances would be unduly influenced by a secondary interest and the seriousness of the harm or wrong that could result from such influence upon patients and researchers alike. Conflict of interest can present in both financial and intellectual form. Recognition, consequences, and a general approach to management of conflict of interest in medical research are presented in this chapter.
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