Conflict of Interest in Clinical Research: Direct Payment to the Investigators for Finding Human Subjects and Health Information

Puttagunta, P. Saradhi, Caulfield, Timothy A., Griener, Glenn, Health Law Review

Abstract

The recent death of teenager Jesse Gelsinger in a drug therapy trial has drawn attention to how financial conflicts of interest may compromise patient protection. While research institutions throughout the world have instituted a variety of conflict of interest guidelines, the potential conflicts associated with investigators receiving direct payment from private companies for both the recruitment of patients and the running of clinical trials in pharmaceutical research remains a relatively unexplored area. Clinical researchers undoubtedly deserve to be reasonably compensated for their participation. But these incentive mechanisms also have the potential to create conflicts of interest -- both real and perceived.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the issue of physician remuneration for patient recruitment and conducting clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies. The potential conflicts and dangers of this remuneration scheme will be examined in detail, as will be the lack of guidelines. This lack of guidelines poses a problem for research ethics boards in trying to protect patients' rights.

Conclusion

The authors conclude with recommendations as to which legal mechanisms can best be implemented to effectively alleviate this conflict …

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Publication information: Article title: Conflict of Interest in Clinical Research: Direct Payment to the Investigators for Finding Human Subjects and Health Information. Contributors: Puttagunta, P. Saradhi - Author, Caulfield, Timothy A. - Author, Griener, Glenn - Author. Journal title: Health Law Review. Volume: 10. Issue: 2 Publication date: Spring 2002. Page number: 30+. © 2009 Health Law Institute. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

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