Understanding the “Conflict of Interest

Abstract

According to Wikipedia, ‘Çonflict of interest’ is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgement or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest' [1]. It may be broadly described as conditions which may influence one’s judgement in a situation (primary interest) for some other gain (secondary interest), this may be financial or non-financial . It is of importance to understand that having a secondary gain is not wrong but these gains should not be illegal. This pertains to delivery of patient care, teaching and research in the medical profession.