Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Policy and Form
Health and Science Policy and Quality Improvement
Purpose
The intent of disclosure of any potential conflict of interest is to ensure that the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) standards provide a balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous product. The ACCP requires each panel or committee member, reviewer, and other participants, who will provide content or methodologic expertise, to disclose all information regarding any possible conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
In your potential role as a participant, author, or reviewer, the ACCP requires full disclosure of all possible conflicts of interest. Note that disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is part of the process to eliminate bias and ensure transparency of the process. Disclosing potential conflicts does not necessarily disqualify you as a participant.
Who must complete this form?
Panel or committee members, panelists, authors, reviewers, and other participants all are required to disclose relationships with a commercial interest if that relationship occurred within the past 36 months and involves you or your spouse or partner.
What do I have to consider when I complete this form?
The ACCP defines any relevant financial relationship to be a potential conflict when the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honorarium, ownership interest (eg, stocks, stock options, or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles, such as employment, management, work as an independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. There is no set minimum dollar amount for financial relationships to be considered significant; therefore, any amount could be considered an incentive to maintain or increase the value of a possible commercial entity. The ACCP Health and Science Policy (HSP) Committee and Quality Improvement Committee (QIC) consider relationships also to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Who reviews this completed form?
Either the ACCP HSP or QIC Policy & Procedures Subcommittee will review this form. The results of this review will be presented to the ACCP HSP or QIC Committees for a final decision as to whether a conflict of interest exists and whether it can be managed.
Additional Disclosure Information
Refusal to disclose to the ACCP any identified conflicts of interest means that you relinquish your ability to participate in this guideline, committee, or project.
If a potential conflict of interest develops after you complete this agreement, but occurs before your committee membership or project assignment is completed, you must inform the ACCP HSP or QIC staff member or project manager immediately.
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