Conflict of interest: what is it, and how do journals manage it in the publication process?

Excerpt

Conflict of interest (COI) according to the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) “…exists when there is a divergence between an individual’s private interests (competing interests) and his or her responsibilities to scientific and publishing activities such that a reasonable observer might wonder if the individual’s behavior or judgment was motivated by considerations of his or her competing interests” [1]. Most individuals think of COI in financial terms, but in fact, it has as much to do with an individual’s loyalty to a research concept, society, or clinical belief system as it does with any financial considerations. The WAME suggests that each journal have its own definition of COI and attempt to maintain a consistent policy in its publication process. …