S. Krimsky et Ls. Rothenberg, FINANCIAL INTEREST AND ITS DISCLOSURE IN SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS, JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, 280(3), 1998, pp. 225-226
Journal policies and requirements of funding agencies on financial dis
closure of authors and grant applicants have divided editors and scien
tists who disagree on whether such policies can improve the integrity
of science or manage conflicts of interest. Those opposed to such disc
losure policies argue that financial interest is one of many interests
held by scientists, is the least scientifically dangerous, and should
not be singled out. Those who favor open reporting of financial inter
ests argue that full disclosure removes the suspicion that something o
f relevance to objectivity is being hidden and allows readers to form
their own opinions on whether a conflict of interest exists and what r
elevance that has to the study. The authors believe that the scientifi
c community and the public will be best served by open publication of
financial disclosures for readers and reviewers to evaluate.