Question

Dr. Maria Watkins is a highly respected medical researcher at a highly respected university whose research is focused on treatment and cures for infertility. Because the cost of research is great, the research cannot be done without grant money. Over the past five years, Dr. Watkins received several million dollars in grant money as well as consulting fees from several pharmaceutical manufacturers which produce the types of drugs studied in the research. She responded (truthfully) to questions concerning the grant money and consulting fees as follows, “My interests are solely in the advancement of medical treatment through rigorous and objective study. I would not allow my research to be compromised in any way in exchange for funding.” Does Dr. Watkins have a conflict of interest? Answer yes or no and explain your answer. (No minimum length for your answer as long as it fully explains why this is or is not a conflict of interest. 10 Points)

Answer 1

yes, Dr watkins have conflict of interest, for knowing explaining the interest first we need to know what is conflict of interest .

A competing interest, also known as a ‘conflict of interest’, can occur when you have a financial, commercial, legal, or professional relationship with other organizations, or with the people working with them, that could influence your research.

Medical research requires people, time, and money. The fruits of research, including both knowledge and valuable tangible products, have advanced medical care and provided great public benefit, while at the same time helped to fuel growth in both the academic institutions that produce this knowledge and in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device industry. Not surprisingly, commercial interests have wisely partnered with and invested heavily in the academic research enterprise, in both people and institutions upon whom they rely to provide a substantial piece of the knowledge needed to create medications, devices, and other products, which have helped them to earn enormous sums of money for investors. In turn, investigators have increasingly relied over recent decades upon that industry support.

It is important to acknowledge that conflicts of interest are usually quite legalized activities, which on their own are neither unethical nor illegal. An expert in a particular field may have a great deal to offer as an inventor, consultant, or speaker; and royalties, fees for services, or honoraria may be well deserved. Career choices, professional advancement, and time with family are each equally valued. The question that is critical with respect to conflicts of interest is whether these other professional or personal actions or responsibilities may compromise judgment with respect to a primary interest or responsibility, which in this case is to the research. A key issue in understanding the nature of conflicts of interest in medicine and research (and in other fields as well, including business and law) is that the value or weight of the competing interests is unbalanced. In typical ethical conflicts in the medical setting, different values are being weighed and a decision depends upon choices between competing values, so that decisions of what is right to do, all things considered, depend upon the stakeholders, the particularities of the situation, the most important principles and values, and the particular context. Conflicts of interest are notably different from such ethical problems. There is a primary interest, and protecting that interest is what must have priority. Despite the clarity of the conflict, minimizing or eliminating its effects is not necessarily easy.

Here Dr maria watkins is a highly respected medical researcher at a highly respected university, so her personal interest and the area of interest would always be the bresearch for the treatment and cures for infertility. and also she could have several persoinal interests and also would be family responsiblities that can't be avoided. but as the cost of research is higher and iot cannot be handled by herself, so she were forced to raise funds from other investors and through other ways.so due to these high funds and all. she should response and should make great return that could be enough for the exchange of funding. so the personal interests and personal motive to make a good reasearch could be altered due to the conflict of interests. the conflict of interest can be better explained as conflicts with the mind or the unwell mind due to more pressures and responsibilities which comes over the personal interests and goals.