Managing Internal and External COI for RECs and SGCs – Prohibition
Managing Internal and External COI for RECs and SGC
A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which financial or other personal considerations have the potential to compromise or bias professional judgment and objectivity.
A COI is a set of conditions in which professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as a patient’s welfare or the validity of research) tends to be unduly influenced by a secondary interest (such as financial gain) (Thomson, 1993).
A COI affects, or can be perceived to affect a person’s independence, objectivity or impartiality. It occurs when an individual is subject to two coexisting interests that are in direct conflict with each other. COI involves a breach of trust and can occur independently of impropriety taking place.
The tables below provide a guide for managing internal and external COIs for RECs and SGCs.
RECs
PROHIBITION
| INTERNAL COIs | EXTERNAL COIs |
|---|---|
| Individuals should be screened for eligibility on RECs. For example, REC members should be required to have at least some training in research ethics and should not have a history of academic/research compromise. REC members cannot have interests in companies that engage in partnership with the university or REC institution | RECs and review boards should screen funding sources for proposed research. RECs should not approve research for which sources of funding stem from organisations whose products or commodities have the potential for harm. |
| Researchers who seek approval for research protocols should disclose their sources of income and business interests, and declare former sources of income and business interests that might compromise their positions on the research projects, and that could potentially influence their reporting of findings. |
SGCs
PROHIBITION
| INTERNAL COIs | EXTERNAL COIs |
|---|---|
| SGC employees cannot hold a position in more than one SGC department, or be simultaneously involved in government legislature. REC members cannot have interests in companies that engage in partnership with the university or REC institution. SGC officials/employees cannot be simultaneously employed in the private sector in any position, including that of a consultant. SGC employees cannot own or have shares in private or other government entities that conduct business with the SGC. SGC employees cannot accept a government position that has links with the former SGC or any SGC for a period to be specified in the council’s terms of reference. | Prohibit certain individuals from holding positions in the SGC. For example, employees with a compromised record or history of malfeasance. Former government employees cannot be employed in an SGC department with which the former employer engages, for a period of 5 years after leaving the employ of government. SGCs should not accept funds from institutions and companies whose products and commodities are known to be harmful. SGCs should vet sources of funding to avoid serving as vehicles through which money can be laundered. |
| SGC employees should be prohibited from secondment to other entities (including research institutions) that might subsequently be unfairly advantaged by the SGC. Immediate relatives and past business associates cannot be employed as direct subordinates in the SGC to avoid issues of nepotism and cronyism. Ensure that the private and financial interests of immediate relatives of SGC employees do not compromise the decisions of the employees. SGC employees cannot be involved in the approval and granting of research funds to institutions with which they have current or former links. Recusal from discussions on these funds is required from SGC members involved. |