Conflict of Interest
In relation to decisions made by the board of the Dutch-Belgian Research Institute of Chiropractic (DBRIC), one of whose duties is to allocate funding on receipt of applications from researchers or research institutions, a conflict of interest is defined as a situation in which financial or other personal considerations have the potential to compromise or bias professional judgment and objectivity. An apparent conflict of interest is one in which a reasonable person would think that the professional’s judgment is likely to be compromised. A potential conflict of interest involves a situation that may develop into an actual conflict of interest. It is important to note that a conflict of interest exists whether or not decisions are affected by a personal interest; a conflict of interest implies only the potential for bias, not a likelihood.