Which of the following is true about the management of conflicts of interest?
The Importance of Conflicts of Interest
Many individuals resent conflict of interest rules. Yet loyalties and reputational risks subtly influence frames of judgment that skew decisions to benefit friends and family.
Patients, the public, research participants, and colleagues need to trust that physicians and researchers act and make judgments based on primary interests. Moreover, the public needs to trust that these judgments are free of conflicts. Here we will discuss about: Which of the following is true about the management of conflicts of interest?
Also Read: which of the following activities constitutes engagement in research
1. It is a legal requirement
Various professions, including medicine, have adopted conflict of interest policies to ensure that decisions and actions are not improperly influenced by secondary interests. Such policies are an important element of professional ethics and help sustain public confidence in the objectivity of professionals’ judgment. Conflict of interest policies should be designed to meet two basic objectives: reducing the risks of conflict and ensuring that decisions are made based on facts and not on prejudices or preconceptions.
Policies must be based on factual considerations and be clear and unambiguous in their application. They must also be consistent and adequately enforced. Unfortunately, many conflicts of interest policies are vague and inconsistently applied. The American Medical Student Association, for example, assessed conflict of interest policies at individual medical schools and found that the majority were either incomplete or unenforceable.
Another problem with conflict of interest policies is that they often contrast actual and perceived conflicts of interest. This distinction can mislead, by suggesting that perceived conflicts are less serious than actual ones. This misunderstanding is compounded by policies that require professionals to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. When this requirement is interpreted in broad terms, circumstances that are suspicious only to uninformed or predisposed members of the public may be subject to indiscriminate charges of conflict of interest.
Conflict of interest policies must also be clear about the nature of the secondary interest, how it could be influenced by the primary interest, and the extent to which that influence is likely to occur. In the context of patient care, it is generally understood that physicians should not be compensated for recommending a particular treatment or procedure. Similarly, physicians must not have any ownership or investment in companies that manufacture or market pharmaceuticals, devices, or other products used for the treatment of patients.
Other kinds of secondary interests are not as readily understood as financial gain, and they are generally not as easily regulated. These include such things as the desire for recognition for accomplishment, the pleasure of working with colleagues and students, and the enjoyment of personal activities. These are not nearly as serious as financial interests, but they should still be disclosed and managed.
2. It is a moral obligation
In a world where many people feel that they must prioritize their own interests over those of others, it is vital for professionals to maintain integrity and the public’s trust in their judgment. To achieve this, conflicts of interest must be identified and managed proactively, rather than reactively when they become an issue. Conflicts of interest can have negative effects on an institution’s culture, as well as on individual employees. For example, a professor’s connections with a pharmaceutical or medical device company may raise doubts about the objectivity of his class materials and presentations. This can damage his reputation, and may cause him to lose the respect of his colleagues.
Policies that distinguish between actual and perceived conflicts of interest can lead to overly broad rules. The notion that a professional is likely to be biased by the appearance of a conflict opens the door to charges that are based on superficial observations or preconceived suspicions, and can unfairly call into question behavior that is perfectly legitimate. For example, a skeptic might argue that a conflict of interest exists when a legislator receives gifts from a business that could benefit his family or his own personal investments, but not when he has a financial relationship with a company that could be negatively affected by proposed legislation.
Some policies require that professionals avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, but this is not a reasonable requirement. The value of secondary interests varies widely, and is not limited to financial gain. Small gifts like pens and inexpensive meals can have a powerful influence on the decisions of people who are not aware that they are being influenced. This is why conflict of interest policies should focus on circumstances that are reasonably believed to pose a risk that professional judgement or actions regarding primary interests will be unduly influenced by secondary interests.
Conflicts of interest are a real threat to the integrity and credibility of professional judgment, and can have serious consequences for society as a whole. They can distort decision making, compromise the health and safety of patients, or undermine the objectivity of research and other professional activities. Conflict of interest policies are designed to reduce the risks of these situations, by ensuring that professionals take care to manage their relationships with both primary and secondary interests.
3. It is a management responsibility
Conflicts of interest can have a wide range of negative impacts, including damage to a company’s reputation, loss of public or internal trust, and even breaking the law. Therefore, it’s essential that management take a proactive role in managing conflicts of interest and establish clear policies on conflict of interest disclosure and mitigation. The most effective conflict of interest management strategies involve having senior managers or directors involved in the development of conflict of interest policies and overseeing compliance with those policies.
While discussions of conflicts of interest often center around financial gain, it’s important to remember that there are a number of other potential secondary interests that could compromise the responsible conduct of research. These include desires for career advancement, recognition for achievements, favors to friends and family, and the desire for fame and power. Conflict of interest policies need to be broad enough to encompass these types of interests.
Although conflict of interest is a complicated issue, it can be addressed with clear rules and transparent procedures. The key is for an institution to develop a culture of ethics and accountability in which everyone understands what the rules are and how they apply. This requires an emphasis on open and honest communication, not just between managers and staff but among employees at all levels.
A conflict of interest is when an individual’s personal interests interfere with their ability to make objective decisions and to act in the best interests of the institution. These situations are most likely to occur in institutions that have a strong culture of ethics and accountability, with the expectation that employees will make decisions independently and rigorously, without being influenced by personal gains.
In a business setting, conflicts of interest are most likely to impact companies that have relationships with customers or other outside entities, such as suppliers. In these cases, conflicts of interest are more likely to erode internal and external trust, negatively impact the company’s reputation, and harm the organization financially. Conflict of interest is also a concern for not-for-profit organizations, such as universities, which are often required to disclose relationships with donors.
4. It is a social responsibility
The management of conflicts of interest is not just an institutional responsibility but also a social responsibility. Society relies on professionals to be fair and impartial in their judgments and decisions. Without such integrity, it is difficult for people to trust institutions and their representatives. Conflicts of interest can undermine the public’s confidence in the integrity of medicine, science, education, business and other professions.
The severity of a conflict of interest is assessed by how likely it is that professional decisions will be unduly influenced by secondary interests and the seriousness of the consequences of such influence. Conflicts of interest policies should be designed to minimize the likelihood of undue influence and to maximize the effectiveness of safeguards. The risks and potential harms of conflicts of interest should be weighed against the benefits to the institution, society and individuals.
In addition to ensuring that conflict of interest policies are effective, it is important that they be communicated effectively. Physicians and other health care professionals must be able to explain the rationale behind conflict of interest policies and how they are intended to reduce the risk of undue influence. Similarly, managers and board members must be able to explain why and how they are managing conflicts of interest in their organizations.
It is also important that conflict of interest and conflict of commitment policies be clear and logical. While it is often necessary to allow some institutions some flexibility in setting and implementing policies to take account of local circumstances, these variations must be justified to oversight agencies and the general public.
A conflict of commitment, for example, is a potential clash between an individual’s primary responsibilities to his or her institution and other activities, such as volunteer community service or participation in a political campaign, that are also worthy and respectable. These other activities may be as legitimate as research or teaching for a medical school, but they must take a lower priority.
Conflicts of commitment, and to a lesser degree conflicts of interest, should be managed or prohibited even if their monetary value is low and the likelihood of harm or wrongdoing in a single instance is low. Small perks such as pens, inexpensive meals and flattery can have an effect on the behavior of individuals, regardless of their monetary value. If you want to know more about: Which of the following is true about the management of conflicts of interest? just follow us.
