John Labbe
In 2004, media reports and US congressional investigations revealed that dozens of intramural scientists and officials at the National Institutes of Heath had received substantial amounts of cash and stock options by consulting with drug and biotech companies, many of which had dealings with the agency. High-profile problems with prescription drugs such as Vioxx and the controversy over antidepressant use in adolescents suggested that clinical trials conducted at the nation's most respected universities and medical centers might not tell the whole story.
It seemed to be a banner year for conflicts of interest and ethical gaffes, and not just in the United States. In Canada and Europe, the line between research and commercial activities became increasingly blurred, which heightened public sensitivity to potential conflicts of interest (COI) in biomedical research.
This heightened awareness can make it seem as if COI problems are increasing, bioethicists say, just as improved ...
