How do disclosure policies fail? Let us count the ways.
The disclosure policies of scientific journals now require that investigators provide information about financial interests relevant to their research. The main goals of these policies are to prevent bias from occurring, to help identify bias when it occurs, and to avoid the appearance of bias. We argue here that such policies do little to help achieve these goals, and we suggest more effective alternatives.
de Melo-Martín
Inmaculada
I
Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, 411 E. 69th St., New York, NY 10021, USA. imd2001@med. cornell.edu
Intemann
Kristen
K
D015982:Bias; D016265:Conflict of Interest / Q000191:economics; D030881:Disclosure / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017712:Peer Review, Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics