NY Times Flags Conflicts of Interest Among NIH Guideline Creators

The NY Times has found that three federal panels charged with developing major public health guidelines on the leading causes of cardiovascular disease (hypertension, cholesterol and obesity) include many members receiving significant fees and consulting pay from industry sources. 

20 members of the three panels - including co-chairmen - have been advised to abstain from voting on crucial issues because of their close personal ties to the industries their votes would affect.

“Consciously or not, they may well be making decisions that fit their funders, their payers and not the patient’s best interests,” said IMAP president David J. Rothman. “If you want the public to really believe in the guidelines, why not have a committee that is conflict-free?”

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