Addressing the problem of conflict-of-interest and moneyed influence in public health: Some case studies

The International Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology (IJPC-SE) promotes the ethical and unbiased application of epidemiology, striving to bring clarity to the science underlying policy options. Its purpose is to promote and protect public health by serving as an ethical and effective counterweight to the misuse of epidemiological evidence. As an applied science, epidemiology can be misapplied, misused, misinterpreted and abused by those intent on so doing. This chapter brings to attention how moneyed influence is being used to infiltrate the epidemiological literature in order to derail the scientific discourse and its role in public policy formulation through the misuse of this science. The need for disclosure of real or perceived Conflict-of-Interest (COI) must be taken seriously especially if those engaged in public health are to protect the public interest. A case study involving asbestos industry influence in a Quebec, Canada, university, and one concerning the development of policy around gift acceptance by the IJPC-SE as a public interest organization are used to demonstrate the realities faced in the modern world of influence in science.