This report form the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies examines conflicts of interest in medical research, education, and practice and in the development of clinical practice guidelines by reviewing the evidence on the extent of industry relationships with physicians and researchers and their consequences and describing current policies intended to identify, limit, or manage conflicts of interest. The report contains several overarching conclusions: the goals of conflict of interest policies are to protect the integrity of professional judgment and public trust rather than to remediate bias and mistrust after they occur; the disclosure of individual and institutional financial relationships is a critical but limited first step in identifying and responding to conflicts of interest; conflict of interest policies and procedures can be strengthened by engaging physicians, researchers, and medical institutions in developing conflict of interest policies and consensus standards; public and private supporting organizations can promote the adoption and implementation of conflict of interest policies and help create a culture of accountability; research on conflicts of interest and conflict of interest policies can provide a stronger evidence base for policy design and implementation; and lack of voluntary action on conflict of interest policies and procedures by medical institutions will likely lead to increased pressure for external regulation. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less