Abstract

JADRESIC, Enrique  and  CORREA, Eduardo. Conflicts of Interest: A Concern of the Society of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery (SONEPSYN). Rev. chil. neuro-psiquiatr. [online]. 2004, vol.42, n.1, pp.22-28. ISSN 0717-9227.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92272004000100003.

Medical literature is paying increasing attention to conflicts of interest, mainly although not exclusively from the perspective of the physician-pharmaceutical industry relationship. When interests compete, the possibility of medical judgment being distorted is often not visible at first sight. The likelihood of an unconscious and unintentional self-serving bias, as well as the effects that professional judgment would appear to be influenced, regardless of whether it is or not, must be considered. The advent of Evidence-based Medicine and Administered Health poses tensions between the population focus of medicine and the duties that doctors have to individual patients. As in other countries, national scientific societies must prompt the study, knowledge, and diffusion of those factors that may contribute to bias in medical judgment, as well as institute local ethical codes to guide professionals.

Keywords : conflicts of interest; physician-pharmaceutical relationship; ethical codes.