Click on items below to go to relevant document:

• Conflict of interest statement for persons presenting at BSPGHAN scientific meetings
• Guidelines concerning grants to BSPGHAN from industry

Conflict of interest statement for persons presenting at BSPGHAN scientific meetings

1. It is now apparent that as part of good practice Health professionals should declare any conflicts of interest arising when publishing or presenting scientific data.
2. A conflict of interest statement is standard practice for submission of articles to journals but is not yet standard practice when giving scientific presentations.
3. These guidelines are in line with the General medical Council’s Good Medical Practice1 ,The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of professional conduct2 and health professions council Standards of conduct performance and ethics3.
4. As such the BSPGHAN council now invites those presenting at BSPGHAN meetings to include a slide summarising any potential conflict of interest.
5. A conflict of interest is deemed as any inducement, gift or hospitality that may affect, or be seen to affect the judgement of the person in question.
6. There is nothing wrong or unethical about having a conflict of interest but any that exists should be openly acknowledged.
7. In practice this would mean declaration of any significant funding received to support research activities from the pharmaceutical industry or other funding body. This would be especially important if any of the sponsoring bodies products were to be discussed during the course of the presentation.
8. Members would not be expected to declare the amount of sponsorship given or the nature of the sponsorship.
9. If no conflict of interest exists then a slide declaring that should be included in the presentation.

BSPGHAN council October 2005

References:

1. General Medical Council. Good Medical Practice 3rd Edition May 2001 p17-18 sections 53-55.
2. The Nursing and Midwifery Council. The NMC Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics. 2004 p10 section 7.
3. Health professions council. Standards of Conduct performance and ethics. Your duties as a registrant: 2003. p10 section 15.

download as Word document »

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guidelines concerning grants to BSPGHAN from industry

1. BSPGHAN accepts support from outside sources including industry for educational, scientific and professional activities
2. Such support is subject to the principles outlined in this document.
3. BSPGHAN is responsible for deciding on its own educational, scientific and professional objectives and priorities.
4. Any activity receiving commercial support must have a clear and explicitly stated purpose in keeping with the objects of the Society as stated in Rule 2 of the BSPGHAN constitution.*
5. BSPGHAN is responsible for choosing any persons or organisations that may control, influence or evaluate its activities.
6. BSPGHAN will not explicitly endorse any product or company.
7. The BSPGHAN logo may not be used in a way that indicates or suggests BSPGHAN endorsement of a particular product, brand or company or of a company's policies unless explicit consent is given by BSPGHAN.
8. Acceptance by BSPGHAN of a grant from industry does not imply that BSPGHAN will use its influence to support the company's interests beyond the specific arrangement itself.
9. All relevant Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidelines must be adhered to.
10. The principle parties must sign an agreement defining the relationship, its duration and the responsibilities of the respective parties.
11. BSPGHAN prefers to obtain support for its activities from a variety of sources, and exclusive arrangements require mutual consent.

*'The objects of the Society shall be the advancement of research, clinical excellence and training in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition'

Copyright © 2006 British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition