Conflicts of interest in emergency medicine

Conflicts of interest have become prevalent in the daily practice of emerge ncy medicine because physician relationships with patients, hospitals, insu rers, and the medical industry have become increasingly complex. Conflict r esolution requires both physician recognition and available resources to av oid engaging in a conflict that may jeopardize public confidence regarding patient advocacy. This article analyzes the essential charateristics of sev eral conflicts of interest that apply to emergency physicians, and reviews rational ways to systematically avoid or curtail them.