How Conflict Of Interest Is Destroying Psychiatry. A New Radical Proposal Sparks A Heated Debate

Fava (University of Bologna) has presented what is probably the most radical proposal for addressing the issue in medicine. The proposal stems from the definition of “substantial conflict of interest” and is articulated on lines of support to independent researchers (priority for obtaining grants, for scientific society meetings, exclusion of researchers with substantial conflict of interest from clinical practice guidelines group, etc..) and in steps to addressing financial conflict of interest in medical research (disclosure, education, conflict of interest committees in each scientific organization, etc..).

Fava invites individual members of scientific societies to decline participation in specific meetings or to refuse to pay the due when conflict of interest is judged to be prevailing.

The proposals sparked the most varied comments from psychiatrists from all over the world. They agreed, however, that Europe is definitely backward compared to the US in addressing the issue.