EDITORIAL: Conflict of Interest in Peer-Reviewed Medical Journals

This month’s REGISTRAR is devoted to the “Conflict of Interest in Peer-Reviewed Medical Journals: The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Position on a Challenging Problem.” Full text access for Neurosurgery subscribers.

Conflict of interest is receiving significant attention in institutions of higher learning, medical research, and the law. Most authors and readers are aware of the issues surrounding the concept. In general, a conflict of interest occurs when one interest, choice, task, or service may influence another. There are many institutional and organizational guides as to how to navigate the minefield. There is also the matter of conscience. Conflict situations require strategic thinking and using information to decide on the best plan to achieve an objective.