Bioethics for clinicians: 17. Conflict of interest in research,education and patient care

A conflict of interest occurs in a situation in which professional judgement regarding a primary interest, such as research, education or patient care, may be unduly influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain or personal prestige. Conflicts of interest exist in every walk of life, including medicine and science. There is nothing inherently unethical in finding oneself in a conflict of interest. Rather, the key questions are whether one recognizes the conflict and how one deals with it. Strategies include disclosing the conflict, establishing a system of review and authorization, and prohibiting the activities that lead to the conflict.     

Research in troubled waters: U.S. research vessel clearance experience, 1972–1978

Abstract

The experience of U.S. institutions in obtaining permission to conduct oceanographic research in areas under foreign jurisdiction has been reviewed for the years 1972–1978. There were 441 clearance events identified involving 68 countries. Seven percent of the requests were denied and 21 percent were subject to inordinate delays. The incidence of denials has increased during the last few years. Reasons given for denials related to insufficient advance notice, inadequate arrangements, unacceptable conditions, or disputed jurisdiction. Provisions of the Draft Convention for the Law of the Sea may alleviate some of these problems.     

The oxidative DNA damage response: A review of research undertaken with Tsinghua and Xiangya students at the University of Pittsburgh

Endogenous stress and exogenous toxicants (chemicals and UV light) alter genetic information either directly or indirectly through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby driving genomic instability in cells and promoting tumorigenesis. All living cells try to faithfully preserve and transmit their genomic information from one generation to the next using DNA repair mechanisms to repair oxidative DNA damage to prevent cancer or premature aging. Oxidative DNA damage comprises a mixture of DNA lesions including base damage, DNA single strand breaks (SSBs), and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). This review summarizes some of the studies on DNA damage response at a defined genome locus that are performed by students from the Tsinghua University School of Medicine and the School of Medicine of Central South University (Xiangya Hospital) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. A summary of their work highlights the continuous contribution of the students to a particular research program and exemplifies the achievements of this China-U.S. collaborative training program.     

Postgraduate education in therapeutics: experience in Merseyside.

A teaching programme in therapeutics for general practitioners in Merseyside, which was led by a group of clinical pharmacologists, had as its principal aim to emphasise the importance of rational drug prescribing. The course comprised 15 sessions restricted to 25 GPs, and the topics were suggested by both the organisers and the GPs. Though each session was introduced by a clinical pharmacologist, the emphasis was an open discussion and exchange of views. This programme may serve as a pattern for other centres.