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Evaluation

Debate

Research Ethics and Social Sciences

Non-financial Conflicts of Interest: Dueling literature reviews debate key questions

Thursday, October 23, 2025
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Location: A106

  • David J. Satin, MD

    Director of medical school courses in Ethics, Law, Policy, Finance, and Quality Improvement.
    University of Minnesota School of Medicine
    Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Marc Tunzi, MD, MA, HEC-C

    Senior Associate Director, Family Medicine Residency Program and Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
    Natividad and UCSF
    Salinas, California

  • David A. Bauer, n/a

    Medical Student
    University of Minnesota
    Northfield, Minnesota

Abstract: Prior to 2024, no systematic literature review had been published about non-financial conflicts of interest (NFCOI) in healthcare research, publication, and clinical care. In 2024/2025, two research groups from different fields and opposite sides of the world independently published reviews, concluding three similar tenets: 1) NFCOIs are meaningful conceptual entities, 2) NFCOIs are problematic and require management, and 3) Disclosure is necessary but not sufficient to manage NFCOIs. Although these tenets reflect the majority view, each review revealed strong dissenting views. This session will bring both research groups together to debate each tenet. The majority view will be argued by our team of bioethicists-health social scientists and the minority view will be argued by our physicians-philosophers team. Majority arguments will be supported by real-life examples such as a pro-life advocacy group leader submitting a manuscript about the complications of medication abortion and a physician with a sick family member participating in a resource allocation decision. The minority view will argue that NFCOI is conceptually incoherent. Given there is no “view from nowhere,” the phenomenon cannot be separated from general life experiences. Moreover, even if we could identify meaningful NFCOIs, they would only distract from (more important) financial COIs as there is no effective way to identify or manage NFCOIs. Audience members will participate by posting their own arguments and reactions to the debate in real-time support of either side. Audience members will vote before and after each tenet is debated, ultimately debriefing alongside the debating teams.

Keywords: Non-financial Conflict of Interest, Publication Ethics, Bias

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this conference, attendees should be able to:
  • Cite the strongest arguments from the literature supporting whether or not Non-financial Conflicts of Interest (NFCOIs) are distinct conceptual entities from financial COIs.
  • Determine to what degree you believe NFCOIs in research, publication, and clinical practice are problematic and require management.
  • Debate the proposition "disclosure is necessary but not sufficient to manage NFCOIs."