Half of Canadian Medical Societies Lack COI Policies
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- Canadian medical societies lack comprehensive conflict‑of‑interest policies, with many being fragmented and narrow in scope (per analysis in PLOS One).
- 35 of 68 societies—51.5%—have no policies covering nine key activities such as clinical practice guidelines, research funding, journals, continuing medical education, and corporate relationships.
- Some societies also fail to develop policies for leadership or staff, leaving governance gaps.
- The study warns that these gaps can introduce commercial bias into clinical decision‑making, potentially affecting patient care.
Why it matters: Doctors and patients lose confidence as 35 of 68 societies—over half—lack COI safeguards, while industry gains unchecked influence; the study warns of commercial bias in clinical guidelines and care.
