Policy on Conflict of Interest.

Abstract

Relationships between industry and neurosurgeons engaged in both clinical practice and research have become increasingly complicated due to increased utilization of expensive devices in day-to-day neurosurgical practice. The Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG) has always had a policy of demanding open disclosure of any real, potential, or even perceived conflict of interest by authors submitting scientific manuscripts. Recently, the editor-in-chief and members of the editorial boards, after much discussion of this issue, decided that this policy of open disclosure should be enhanced and more specifically defined. In addition, we felt that such a policy should be extended to all reviewers of articles submitted for publication to JNSPG journals-both members of the editorial boards and ad hoc reviewers. To clarify, extend, and specify the JNSPG's policy in this respect, the editor and editorial boards developed a task force on "Conflict of Interest." The task force, after considerable discussion with the full editorial boards, developed the following Conflict of Interest policy as well as the forms that submitting authors, editorial board members, and other reviewers are now required to complete.