Review article
Editorial Interest in Conflict of Interest
Ana Marušić
; Split University School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, Split
Abstract
This year’s first issue of the Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ)
did not feature only the new design of the journal (1) but
also an update of its Guidelines for Authors (2), made regularly
for each volume. We can only hope that our authors
did notice the changes, as editorial experience and
research evidence show that readers do not read journal
documents (3) and that journals do not keep up with the
updates in publishing requirements (4).
One of the important changes to the Guidelines for Authors
in 2009 was the more detailed explanation of possible
editorial conflict of interest. Although the previous
versions of the Guidelines always included the statement
that the CMJ follows the principles of the best publishing
practice recommended by a professional editorial organization,
we wanted to specifically address the conflict of interest
that may exist for editors, especially those from small
scientific communities.
Conflict of interest is commonly discussed in view of an
author or a group of authors of a published work. This is
the reason why journal editors ask their authors to disclose
their possible conflict of interest (5). Cases of undisclosed
financial ties between researchers and the industry has
lead to calls not only for more transparent disclosure of
possible conflict of interests in the journals, but even for
public databases to disclose financial ties of research and
industry (6).
What about editors of journals, members of their editorial
boards, or their governing bodies? Should they declare
their possible conflict of interest? Is there a way to manage
it? Let’s look at the succinct definition of conflict of interest
by the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME):
“Conflict of interest (COI) exists when there is a divergence
between an individual’s private interests (competing interests)
and his or her responsibilities to scientific and publishing
activities such that a reasonable observer might
wonder if the individual’s behavior or judgment was motivated
by considerations of his or her competing interests.
COI in a medical publishing affects everyone with a stake
in research integrity including journals, research/academic
institutions, funding agencies, the popular media, and the
public.” (7).
It is obvious that editors may have conflict of interest
which may affect what they publish in their journal. This is
particularly true for instances when they want to publish
their own research, which is often true for editors of small
scholarly journals who are usually volunteer editors and active
researchers at the same time. However, the guidelines
www.cmj.hr
Editorial Interest in Conflict of
Interest
Ana Marušić
ana.marusic@cmj.hr
Guidelines of the International Committee of Medical
Journal Editors on editorial conflict of interest (http://
www.icmje.org/#conflicts)
II.D.3. Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Commitments
of Editors, Journal Staff, or Reviewers
Editors who make final decisions about manuscripts must
have no personal, professional, or financial involvement in
any of the issues they might judge. Other members of the
editorial staff, if they participate in editorial decisions, must
provide editors with a current description of their financial
interests (as they might relate to editorial judgments) and
recuse themselves from any decisions in which a conflict
of interest exists. Editorial staff must not use information
gained through working with manuscripts for private gain.
Editors should publish regular disclosure statements about
potential conflicts of interests related to the commitments
of journal staff.
Box 1.
Guideline on editorial conflict of interest from the World
Association of Medical Editors
Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals (http://
www.wame.org/resources/publication-ethics-policiesfor-
medical-journals#conflicts)
Conflict of Interest
Manuscripts authored by members of the editorial board
present a special instance of potential conflict of interest.
The review of these manuscripts must always be supervised
by a senior editor (deputy editor or higher) who will
review the decision of the assigned decision editor for objectivity
before the decision is final.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
41340
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2009.
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