CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Diverting attention from financial conflicts of interest

摘要

Godlee's comment that "there is little dispute that non-financial conflicts of interest—such as academic passion and personal belief—are just as important [as], if harder to track" than financial conflicts, begs examination fortwo reasons. Firstly, personal biases are generally, although not always, multidirectional; some experts might prefer one approach to patient care for personal or philosophical reasons, or may believe fervently in a treatment that is being tested, while others are likely to take a contrary stand. The bias introduced by financial conflicts, by contrast, is almost invariably unidirectional because most clinical research is sponsored by industry, whose fiduciary duty is to sell product. As a result, trial design, analysis, and publication are often biased in the sponsor's favour.