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A conflict of interest
Guest editorial
A conflict
of
interest
F
or some time, it has been noted that dentists have been producers and sellers of commercial devices. Many of these same practitioners have continued to accept lecture assignments, conduct courses, and place themselves in similar sensitive positions relative to the clinical use and acceptability of the products in which they have a pecuniary interest. Scientifically it is not tenable if officers of corporations which manufacture devices, particularly those which are controversial, attempt to introduce evidence in behalf of their products. In truth-how can an investigator who is in a position to profit from sales conceivably state the truth if it is inimical with sales promotion? How can a clinician make value judgments as to the efficacy, safety, or advisability of use of a product if he is an investor in a company that makes it? How can an editor choose an article for publication if it does not support the product his company manufactures? These difficulties are common to organizations, businesses, and governments. They are called conflicts of interest. Classical incidents of conflict of interest have reached us in recent years. As we have been apprised by the news media, there is no room in efficient, successful, and honest government for such situations. Actually, to permit it is to ask even the most honest man to subject himself to decision making that might be far too burdensome for any human being. If one is honest with his colleagues and the public, whom he has taken an oath to heal, then he may betray the stockholders, many of whom have contributed hardearned pennies to purchase their shares. On the other hand, loyalty to a corporation might be responsible for a decision which could constitute a threat to human life or health. It is a responsibility of dentistry to encourage its members with commercial priorities to identify themselves and to request that their positions in the scientifc community be clarified. A. NORMAN CRANIN, D.D.S. THE BROOKDALE HOSPITAL MEDICAL LINDEN BLVD. AT BROOKDALE PLAZA BROOKI.YN, N. Y. 11212
CENTER
735
A conflict
of
interest
F
or some time, it has been noted that dentists have been producers and sellers of commercial devices. Many of these same practitioners have continued to accept lecture assignments, conduct courses, and place themselves in similar sensitive positions relative to the clinical use and acceptability of the products in which they have a pecuniary interest. Scientifically it is not tenable if officers of corporations which manufacture devices, particularly those which are controversial, attempt to introduce evidence in behalf of their products. In truth-how can an investigator who is in a position to profit from sales conceivably state the truth if it is inimical with sales promotion? How can a clinician make value judgments as to the efficacy, safety, or advisability of use of a product if he is an investor in a company that makes it? How can an editor choose an article for publication if it does not support the product his company manufactures? These difficulties are common to organizations, businesses, and governments. They are called conflicts of interest. Classical incidents of conflict of interest have reached us in recent years. As we have been apprised by the news media, there is no room in efficient, successful, and honest government for such situations. Actually, to permit it is to ask even the most honest man to subject himself to decision making that might be far too burdensome for any human being. If one is honest with his colleagues and the public, whom he has taken an oath to heal, then he may betray the stockholders, many of whom have contributed hardearned pennies to purchase their shares. On the other hand, loyalty to a corporation might be responsible for a decision which could constitute a threat to human life or health. It is a responsibility of dentistry to encourage its members with commercial priorities to identify themselves and to request that their positions in the scientifc community be clarified. A. NORMAN CRANIN, D.D.S. THE BROOKDALE HOSPITAL MEDICAL LINDEN BLVD. AT BROOKDALE PLAZA BROOKI.YN, N. Y. 11212
CENTER
735