New disclosure form

Medical journals are phasing in a standardized, more detailed disclosure form for their authors and researchers according to David Armstrong in the WSJ. And not just money, but possible personal biases--like religious and political affiliations.

"Editors of some of the world's top medical journals will soon begin to demand more stringent, uniform reporting of conflicts of interest by researchers.

The requirements will go beyond existing disclosure rules at many medical journals to include items such as financial relationships involving spouses, partners or minor children. Also required will be disclosure of nonfinancial conflicts, such as religious and political affiliations. Such disclosures are used in medical journals to alert readers to potential biases in research.

At least a dozen publications have agreed to use a new, standardized disclosure form, which will be phased in over the next several months."

I wonder how that will work? Comparing just the beliefs on abortion or euthanasia among Lutherans, Roman Catholics or Methodists, you’d see no hint that members of these groups agree on even some basics like when life begins or when it ends! Or if life even has value and worth after a certain age or disability, (see the President’s own health care czar, Ezekiel Emanuel). And politics? Is there really much difference between a Graham/Snowe and Reid/Pelosi?