How should conflicts of interest be addressed by licensees?

• A. Do nothing; conflicts are harmless.
• B. Disclose conflicts, avoid decisions where personal interests could interfere with patient care.
• C. Conflicts must be kept confidential from patients.
• D. Only disclose if asked by the patient.

Answer: (B)

Conflicts of interest must be addressed by licensees through transparency and by avoiding decision-making where personal interests could influence patient care. When a conflict exists, you should disclose it to the patient or the appropriate parties and recuse yourself from related decisions to protect patient welfare. This approach preserves trust and ensures that clinical choices are guided by the patient’s best interests, not by personal gain. It also aligns with professional ethical standards that prioritize beneficence, autonomy, and integrity. For example, if there is a financial stake in a product being considered, disclosure and avoidance of guiding the recommendation help keep care patient-centered. Doing nothing leaves bias unchecked, keeping conflicts secret undermines trust and informed consent, and waiting to disclose only if asked fails to meet the duty of proactive transparency.