ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

News

Globe and Mail - Multiple sclerosis: Suspicions of bias on all sides of MS debate

Published: 12 May 2011

Champions of blocked-vein theory say naysayers are beholden to drug companies; others point to Paolo Zamboni's own commercial links after he failed to disclose that he has worked closely for years with a leading Italian manufacturer of imaging devices used to detect the condition he calls chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. Having a researcher work so closely with a company can raise eyebrows.

"If you are financially interested in seeing a given product make it to commercialization, you may be less inclined to collect and report information that's adverse," said Jonathan Kimmelman, an expert in biomedical ethics at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University.

Money, however, is not the only source of conflict, according to Prof. Kimmelman. Personal attachment also can skew a researcher's judgment.

Back to top