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Master Z, Werner K, Smith E, Resnik DB, Williams-Jones B. Conflicts of interest policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors of bioethics journals. AJOB Empir Bioeth 2018; 9:194-205. [PMID: 30248000 PMCID: PMC6310149 DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2018.1510859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In biomedical research, there have been numerous scandals highlighting conflicts of interest (COIs) leading to significant bias in judgment and questionable practices. Academic institutions, journals, and funding agencies have developed and enforced policies to mitigate issues related to COI, especially surrounding financial interests. After a case of editorial COI in a prominent bioethics journal, there is concern that the same level of oversight regarding COIs in the biomedical sciences may not apply to the field of bioethics. In this study, we examined the availability and comprehensiveness of COI policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors of bioethics journals. METHODS After developing a codebook, we analyzed the content of online COI policies of 63 bioethics journals, along with policy information provided by journal editors that was not publicly available. RESULTS Just over half of the bioethics journals had COI policies for authors (57%), and only 25% for peer reviewers and 19% for editors. There was significant variation among policies regarding definitions, the types of COIs described, the management mechanisms, and the consequences for noncompliance. Definitions and descriptions centered on financial COIs, followed by personal and professional relationships. Almost all COI policies required disclosure of interests for authors as the primary management mechanism. Very few journals outlined consequences for noncompliance with COI policies or provided additional resources. CONCLUSION Compared to other studies of biomedical journals, a much lower percentage of bioethics journals have COI policies and these vary substantially in content. The bioethics publishing community needs to develop robust policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors and these should be made publicly available to enhance academic and public trust in bioethics scholarship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubin Master
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, W: 507-266-1105; Fax: 507-538-0850,
| | - Kelly Werner
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, Northwell Health, 276-01 76 Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040, W: 718-470-3204; Fax: 718-470-3935,
| | - Elise Smith
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop E1 06, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 27709,
| | - David B. Resnik
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop E1 06, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 27709, W: 919-541-5658; Fax: 919-541-9854,
| | - Bryn Williams-Jones
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada,
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Kozlowski LT. Coping with the Conflict-of-Interest Pandemic by Listening to and Doubting Everyone, Including Yourself. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2016; 22:591-6. [PMID: 26025653 PMCID: PMC4819729 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-015-9658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In light of the widespread existence of financial and non-financial issues that contribute to the appearance or fact of conflict of interest, it is proposed that conflict of interest should generally be assumed, no matter the source of financial support or the expressed declarations of conflicts and even with respect to one's own work. No new model is advanced for modification of peer-review processes or for elaboration of author declarations of interest. Researchers should be assessing the quality of published work as best they can and make their own decisions on the appropriate use of the work. While some apparent sources of conflict are likely more obvious and serious than others, even subtler biases can influence scientific reports. Ignoring peer-reviewed contributions because of conflict-of-interest concerns is discouraged. Listening skeptically to all sources, including yourself, is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn T Kozlowski
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 323 Kimball Tower, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214-8028, USA.
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Chattopadhyay S, Gillon JJ, De Vries R. Where are all the bioethicists when you need them? J R Soc Med 2012; 105:143-5. [PMID: 22532653 PMCID: PMC3343708 DOI: 10.1258/jrsm.2012.110284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Chattopadhyay
- Department of Physiology and Institutional Review Board, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim 737102, India
| | - John J Gillon
- Center for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Raymond De Vries
- Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5429, USA
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Morrissey C, Walker RL. Funding and Forums for ELSI Research: Who (or What) is Setting the Agenda? AJOB PRIMARY RESEARCH 2012; 3:51-60. [PMID: 22888470 PMCID: PMC3413296 DOI: 10.1080/21507716.2012.678550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Discussion of the influence of money on bioethics research seems particularly salient in the context of research on the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of human genomics, as this research may be financially supported by the ELSI Research Program. Empirical evidence regarding the funding of ELSI research and where such research is disseminated, in relation to the specific topics of the research and methods used, can help to further discussions regarding the appropriate influence of specific institutions and institutional contexts on ELSI and other bioethics research agendas. METHODS: We reviewed 642 ELSI publications (appearing between 2003-2008) for reported sources of funding, forum for dissemination, empirical and non-empirical methods, and topic of investigation. RESULTS: Most ELSI research is independent of direct grant-based funding sources; 66% reported no such sources of funding. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is the most dominant source of funding; 16% of publications acknowledged at least one source of NHGRI grant funding. Funding is acknowledged more frequently in empirical than non-empirical publications, and more frequently in publications in public health journals than in any other ELSI research dissemination forums. Dominant research topics vary by publication forum and by reported funding. CONCLUSIONS: ELSI research is surprisingly independent of direct grant-based funding, yet correlations are apparent between this type of funding and publication placement, topics addressed, and methods used, implying a not insignificant influence on ELSI research agenda-setting. However, given the relatively low percentage of publications acknowledging external grant-based funding, as well as other significant correlations between publication placement and topics addressed, additional institutional contexts, perhaps related to professional advancement or valuation, may shape research agendas in ways that potentially exceed the direct influences of grant-based funding in this area. In some cases, grant-based funding may actually counter other potentially problematic institutional influences.
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Myers EF, Parrott JS, Cummins DS, Splett P. Funding source and research report quality in nutrition practice-related research. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28437. [PMID: 22163017 PMCID: PMC3232225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The source of funding is one of many possible causes of bias in scientific research. One method of detecting potential for bias is to evaluate the quality of research reports. Research exploring the relationship between funding source and nutrition-related research report quality is limited and in other disciplines the findings are mixed. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine whether types of funding sources of nutrition research are associated with differences in research report quality. DESIGN A retrospective study of research reporting quality, research design and funding source was conducted on 2539 peer reviewed research articles from the American Dietetic Association's Evidence Analysis Library® database. RESULTS Quality rating frequency distributions indicate 43.3% of research reports were rated as positive, 50.1% neutral, and 6.6% as negative. Multinomial logistic regression results showed that while both funding source and type of research design are significant predictors of quality ratings (χ2 = 118.99, p≤0.001), the model's usefulness in predicting overall research report quality is little better than chance. Compared to research reports with government funding, those not acknowledging any funding sources, followed by studies with University/hospital funding were more likely to receive neutral vs positive quality ratings, OR = 1.85, P <0.001 and OR = 1.54, P<0.001, respectively and those that did not report funding were more likely to receive negative quality ratings (OR = 4.97, P<0.001). After controlling for research design, industry funded research reports were no more likely to receive a neutral or negative quality rating than those funded by government sources. CONCLUSION Research report quality cannot be accurately predicted from the funding source after controlling for research design. Continued vigilance to evaluate the quality of all research regardless of the funding source and to further understand other factors that affect quality ratings are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther F Myers
- Research and Strategic Business Development, American Dietetic Association, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
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Hanson SS. Ethics in the discipline(s) of bioethics. HEC Forum 2011; 23:171-92. [PMID: 21822633 DOI: 10.1007/s10730-011-9163-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The development of a code of ethics for a profession can be an indicator of the coherence and stability of a discipline as a unique and singular entity. Since "bioethics", as a discipline, is not one profession but many, practiced by persons with not one but many varying responsibilities and training, it has been argued that no code of ethics is possible for the discipline(s) of bioethics. I argue that a code of ethics is possible for bioethics by looking at the nature of the various disciplines and noting necessary overlap between them, and deriving the ethics from the nature of the discipline(s) themselves. I show how this can be done by arguing that strict rules about funding and conflict of interest are necessary for bioethicists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen S Hanson
- Department of Philosophy, University of Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
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Eisinger F. Recherche et multiplicité des conflits d’intérêts. ONCOLOGIE 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10269-010-1958-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Sharp RR, Scott AL, Landy DC, Kicklighter LA. Who is buying bioethics research? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2008; 8:54-W2. [PMID: 18802867 DOI: 10.1080/15265160802317982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Growing ties to private industry have prompted many to question the impartiality of academic bioethicists who receive financial support from for-profit corporations in exchange for ethics-related services and research. To the extent that corporate sponsors may view bioethics as little more than a way to strengthen public relations or avoid potential controversy, close ties to industry may pose serious threats to professional independence. New sources of support from private industry may also divert bioethicists from pursuing topics of greater social importance, such as the needs of medically underserved communities. To inform ongoing debates about the financing of bioethics and its transparency to those concerned about potential sources of bias, we examined funding disclosures appearing in original research reports in major bioethics journals. Reviewing research published over a 15-year period, we found little evidence that for-profit corporations are influencing bioethics research directly. Instead, we found evidence that a great number of organizations, both public and private, support bioethics research. These findings suggest that worries about the cooption of bioethics research by a few interested stakeholders are greatly overstated and undersupported by available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Sharp
- Bioethics Research, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave., Room JJ-60, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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De Vries RG, Keirns CC. Does money make bioethics go 'round? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2008; 8:65-67. [PMID: 18802872 PMCID: PMC2712296 DOI: 10.1080/15265160802342931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond G. De Vries
- Bioethics Program, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Street, Rm 7C27, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, tel: 734-936-5222, fax: 734-936-8944,
| | - Carla C. Keirns
- University of Michigan, 6312 Medical Science Building 1, 1150 W. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-5604, voice 734-647-4844, fax 734-647-3301,
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Resnik
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Mail Drop NH 06, Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wendy Rogers
- 1The Flinders University of South AustraliaBedford ParkAustralia
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12
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Kirk DD, Robert JS. Assessing commercial feasibility: a practical and ethical prerequisite for human clinical testing. Account Res 2006; 12:281-97. [PMID: 16578922 DOI: 10.1080/08989620500440279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This article proposes that an assessment of commercial feasibility should be integrated as a prerequisite for human clinical testing to improve the quality and relevance of materials being investigated, as an ethical aspect for human subject protection, and as a means of improving accountability where clinical development is funded on promises of successful translational research. A commercial feasibility analysis is not currently required to justify human clinical testing, but is assumed to have been conducted by industry participants, and use of public funds for clinical trials should be defensible in the same manner. Plant-made vaccines (PMVs) are offered in this discussion as a model for evaluating the relevance of commercial feasibility before human clinical testing. PMVs have been proposed as a potential solution for global health, based on a vision of immunizing the world against many infectious diseases. Such a vision depends on translating current knowledge in plant science and immunology into a potent vaccine that can be readily manufactured and distributed to those in need. But new biologics such as PMVs may fail to be manufactured due to financial or logistical reasons--particularly for orphan diseases without sufficient revenue incentive for industry investment--regardless of the effectiveness which might be demonstrated in human clinical testing. Moreover, all potential instruments of global health depend on translational agents well beyond the lab in order to reach those in need. A model compromising five criteria for commercial feasibility is suggested for inclusion by regulators and ethics review boards as part of the review process prior to approval of human clinical testing. Use of this model may help to facilitate safe and appropriate translational research and bring more immediate benefits to those in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwayne D Kirk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA.
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Tsai AC. Industry-funded bioethics articles. Lancet 2005; 366:1078. [PMID: 16182894 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)67418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Coyne JC. Industry-funded bioethics articles. Lancet 2005; 366:1077-8. [PMID: 16182893 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)67417-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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