Conflicts of Interest in Research and Clinical Practice

Recently, doctors and researchers are establishing relationships with interested parties from companies, research institutes, health care institutions, and academic journals, instead of conducting independent medical care or research work. They may have multiple interests as an advisor or a shareholder in the relevant company. Such a situation can foster a conflict of interest when their interests influence one’s decision or judgment. Conflict of interest is an extremely important issue because it can infringe the integrity of research, endanger subjects or patients, pose a risk to the public, and deteriorate public perception of science. This brief review explores the definition, examples, and solutions to conflict of interest.