| 1. A faculty member is the editor of a textbook in her specialty, and receives a royalty based on the number of books sold. She requires all students in her course to purchase that textbook. |
| # | Response Date | Comment |
| 1. | Tue, 3/13/07 10:51 PM | It depends on how relevant the textbook is to the topic. Is the author an authority on the topic? I would think it is a serious COI if there are NO equal textbooks available. The author could refuse royalty to lessen the COI. |
| 2. | Tue, 3/13/07 10:52 PM | Is the textbook the definitive work in that specialty? In that case, the conflict of interest is minimal. However, if the textbook is unproven as an effective text for teaching students, then the COI is very serious. |
| 3. | Tue, 3/13/07 10:54 PM | if it's the best book in the field, i don't see the problem. |
| 4. | Tue, 3/13/07 10:54 PM | If she allows other faculty to choose the textbook in an unbiased, anonymous manner, it could be required as what the facult deem as the "most appropriate" book. If she is involved in the decision, it is a serious COI |
| 5. | Tue, 3/13/07 10:58 PM | Is her textbook the best in the field? If it is - this situation is a win-win for both sides. |
| 6. | Tue, 3/13/07 11:00 PM | If the department views the textbook as adequate to cover the material then I see no conflict of interest. The professor should still receive royalties. |
| 7. | Tue, 3/13/07 11:00 PM | The only constraint might be if there were no other comparable textbooks available for this specialized course. |
| 8. | Tue, 3/13/07 11:15 PM | If that textbook is ideal for the course and prepares students well, then I don't see a problem. I imagine that faculty sometimes want pieces from a number of different sources--if she puts everything into one source and it teaches the topic best, then there's nothing wrong with that. |
| 9. | Tue, 3/13/07 11:26 PM | Depends on if the textbook is any good! |
| 10. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:08 AM | Is there another option for the course? This can be slippery, but if an impartial educator would pick the book, then there may not be a problem. |
| 11. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:09 AM | if it was the standard text prior to her taking over as editor, if it is recogized as the preferred text on the topic |
| 12. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:25 AM | If "she" was the only decision maker to make the book a paert of the mandatory texts! |
| 13. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:34 AM | If the text is recognized as "one of the best", and the faculty member fully disclosed the relationship, it would lini,ize the COI. |
| 14. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:40 AM | Is the textbook the best out there or is she just collecting the money? Who else has approved and recommended the book for students use? |
| 15. | Wed, 3/14/07 2:44 AM | It can be if the instructor limits information presented to solely their own publication as opposed to supplementing it with other sources, especially if their text is not as good as another option. For this reason, under such circumstances, the Dean or director of that course or a group of selected individuals knowledgabel in that area should evaluate the textbook compared to others, if it is the best option, then use it. If it is not, then use the other option. This decision should not be solely the responsibility of the professor who edited the book. |
| 16. | Wed, 3/14/07 2:52 AM | on if the textbook is any good and if it useful for the course. |
| 17. | Wed, 3/14/07 3:38 AM | If the text book is amazing, the best one out there for me to learn on, then requiring us to buy it is beneficial, as it will help up learn much better. However, if it is just an average book, or a bad text, than there is a major COI |
| 18. | Wed, 3/14/07 3:44 AM | If this is really the best book for the students to use, and if she uses part of the royalty to improve the class (lectures, audiovisuals etc.) |
| 19. | Wed, 3/14/07 12:05 PM | This is a widely accepted practice and there is some logic and benefit to the students since the textbook reflects how the faculty member teaches. This still feels like a serious conflict of interest. |
| 20. | Wed, 3/14/07 1:39 PM | Is it the best tool for the course. |
| 21. | Wed, 3/14/07 1:50 PM | Whether there are any other current texts on the same subject. If there are, this is a serious COI |
| 22. | Wed, 3/14/07 2:04 PM | Is there any other comparable text for this particular specialty? Would the faculty member donate the royalties back to the university or to services for the students? |
| 23. | Wed, 3/14/07 3:56 PM | Has the book been reviewed? Is it considered by general consensus to be at least one of the best textbooks for the specialty> |
| 24. | Wed, 3/14/07 4:45 PM | If her textbook is one recommended and used by other medical schools then I would be less suspicious and not really have a COI. |
| 25. | Wed, 3/14/07 6:04 PM | Is it more economical for the students, is the text specific for the course and therefore the ideal resource, and unavailable in any other venue. Then the COI is minimal |
| 26. | Wed, 3/14/07 10:00 PM | If this is the only text available and it is clearly needed to teach the course I can see how thi smight not be a conflict. |
| 27. | Wed, 3/14/07 11:39 PM | It would be "No COI" if the text book was one that was commonly used by other med students for the same subject/clerkship. |
| 28. | Thu, 3/15/07 12:57 AM | It might be the only or by far best text in that particular area of specialization. |
| 29. | Thu, 3/15/07 4:56 PM | MSU's new policy does not prohibit this, but wants departs/colleges to establish their own guidelines. I personally believe that it is a moderate conflict of interest that should be disclosed. |
| 30. | Thu, 3/15/07 8:14 PM | IF no other equally good textbooks for that content then is ok. |
| 31. | Thu, 3/15/07 9:42 PM | Very serious if it's an absolute requirement. Small to moderate if she'll allow exceptions/alternatives. |
| 32. | Fri, 3/16/07 11:19 AM | On how good the text is and what else is available. |
| 33. | Fri, 3/16/07 6:36 PM | If this textbook is the most widely accepted, expert text on a subject, I would expect that it should be recommended to me, regardless of who wrote or edited the text. If this were not the case, I would consider this a moderate COI. |
| 34. | Sat, 3/17/07 4:34 PM | This situation is practiced in many fields (which does not necessarily make it alright). It always raises a red flag in my mind when practiced. However, if the text information is deemed accurate and reliable by critical review of practitioners in the same field (those with insight into the relative accuracy and clinical/practical value of the information and without bias (i.e. no relation to the author, gain, etc.) it would contain COI but an admissible practice, in my mind. I would still wonder about the person behind the action, however. It may simply reflect business saavy, esp if the info is good. Also, there are ways around required purchase in protest. |
| 35. | Sun, 3/18/07 3:14 PM | If its the best text on the topic then students should read the book. If the book is worthless and not used at any other institutions, then its an enormous COI. |
| 36. | Mon, 3/19/07 12:03 AM | If he/she genuninely believes it is the best book that covers the material being taught.It is no different than students having to buy a course pack |
| 37. | Mon, 3/19/07 4:34 AM | If the text is considered a standard nationally, it would be reasonable for the professor to demand that standard. For example, if a pathology professor was an editor for Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, it would be irresponsible not to require the text for a class. However, if the professor is an editor for some lesser known pathology text and required it, that would be a conflict (not to mention a failure of his/her post as a professor). |
| 38. | Mon, 3/19/07 1:37 PM | What other textbooks are available. If hers is the only one on the topic then no. If there are several then yes. |
| 39. | Mon, 3/19/07 4:32 PM | The potential for a COI clearly exists in this situation, but it is almost inevitable. The best textbooks are written by faculty and instructors who are active in teaching. One of the principle motivations for a teacher to write or contribute to a textbook is to create a textbook that is tailored to their course. Authors / editors can't be expected to do so unless they are appropriately rewarded by receiving royalties, so this creates a "Catch 22". on the other hand, this tends to be a minor COI, since for textbooks sales and royalties to be a significant financial factor, the text needs to be adopted and used by other institutions, where the COI doesn't exist. Therefore, this only really becomes an issue if a poorly written textbook is forced on a class by the instructor/author, presumably as a self-interested means to increase income. In such cases, the unit curriculum committee may have a role to correct the problem if they see evidence from the publisher / distributor that textbook sales are limited to a single instructor at a single institution. |
| 40. | Mon, 3/19/07 5:23 PM | We all have COI. The conflict is there. It is not an ethically disabling conflict if the textbook is the best thing available for the purpose. |
| 41. | Mon, 3/19/07 10:59 PM | i had a prof in undergrad who fit this description. but he used the royalties for a study party for us. this is a bit much to expect for 100 plus students but it made it seem more fair and then he was very knowledgeable regarding the text. |
| 42. | Mon, 3/26/07 3:06 PM | If there is no other textbook that covers the material, and this is vetted through some advisory body. She could also figure out a way to not get royalty checks for the books that get bought by students. Unless those conditions are present, I would call it a serious COI |
| 43. | Mon, 4/23/07 1:21 PM | This is certainly a COI but if there are no other comparable works in the field it may be justifiable. It is not uncommon for faculty to require the purchase of materials they have produced. |
| 44. | Mon, 4/23/07 6:01 PM | Depends if the book is very good or not. Also, students may be required to use a book but not necessarily purchase it. |
| 45. | Tue, 4/24/07 1:27 PM | Are there other comparable texts available?
If there is, I think this could be a moderate COI |
| 46. | Tue, 4/24/07 6:45 PM | If she is putting the royalty back into the department it is not a problem. She did the work why have them read some one else's book? |
| 47. | Tue, 4/24/07 9:26 PM | If it's the only or clearly best text it would be OK, but only with 3rd party (dept committee?)approval |
| 48. | Tue, 4/24/07 9:32 PM | If independent review found it to be the most relevent text, then may be appropriate. |
| 49. | Wed, 4/25/07 5:27 PM | The operative phrase is "she requires". If she does not require, but recommends it, then it is not a conflict of inteest. If she "reuires" it, then it is "AModerate COI" |
| 50. | Thu, 4/26/07 9:16 PM | Availability of competitive material and the relative quality would be an important issue. better the quality compared to others the less the conflict |
| 51. | Mon, 4/30/07 2:07 AM | Please see next answer. |
| 52. | Mon, 5/14/07 12:59 AM | If this is THE text as judged by peers not to reccomend this book would not be in the best interest of the students. |