For more than a decade I have campaigned for full transparency of competing financial interests for scientists, academics and healthcare workers. Without such, it is my view that fully informed consent for any intervention is an impossible ambition.
Over the time of my advocacy I have met with defensive reactions from many professionals in relation to scientific transparency. Not infrequently, general inquiries have been met with the accusation that to ask about competing financial interests is “ad hominem”.
I have responded that the issue of transparency is not ad hominem, it is ad rem.
Transparency is key.