What constitutes conflict?
At an investor conference, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer voiced the notion that Wall Street firms may have to "remove" departments that constitute conflict.
The same goes for expectations about who owns or controls ideas, data, and writings; what constitutes conflict of interest and informed consent; what responsibilities individuals have if they observe wrongdoing; and other complex issues that arise in scientific research.
It follows that the definition of conflict affectedness involves specifying time period, area whose inhabitants are affected, and the nature of behaviors that constitutes conflict.
Unless there are specific and comprehensive guidelines describing what constitutes conflict of interest and the process for controlling it, these conflicts will be addressed inconsistently or may even remain unaddressed, at the cost of transparency and accountability.
Recent topics on the Public Editor's Journal, at nytimes.com/publiceditor, include the evolution of the Edward Koch obituary, whether book excerpts constitute conflicts of interest, and a first-day look at the subject of this column.
Culverhouse's relationships with other NFL owners were occasionally, as in his relationship with the Rams, alleged to constitute conflicts of interest.
Members of the guideline committee have disclosed any financial, personal, or professional relationships that might constitute conflicts of interest with this guideline and have received no direct funding related to the development of the recommendations.
She also said she wanted to keep her shares in her former employer, Pearson, but said she would take advice on whether this constituted a conflict of interest.
Carries as baggage: Had to step down as president of the Institute for Defense Analyses amid concerns that his positions on several corporate boards constituted a conflict of interest.
