Conflict of Interest (also known as Conflicts of Interest, Interest Conflict): A situation in which an individual might benefit personally from official or professional actions. It includes a conflict between a person's private interests and official responsibilities in a position of trust. The term is not restricted t

NIH MeSH · D016265Humanities

Conflict of Interest

Also known asConflicts of Interest · Interest Conflict · Interest Conflicts

Definition

A situation in which an individual might benefit personally from official or professional actions. It includes a conflict between a person's private interests and official responsibilities in a position of trust. The term is not restricted to government officials. The concept refers both to actual conflict of interest and the appearance or perception of conflict.

MeSH classification

  • K01.752.566.479.095
  • N05.350.225

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Common questions about Conflict of Interest

What does Conflict of Interest mean in medicine?
A situation in which an individual might benefit personally from official or professional actions. It includes a conflict between a person's private interests and official responsibilities in a position of trust. The term is not restricted to government officials. The concept refers both to actual conflict of interest and the appearance or perception of conflict. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Conflict of Interest known by any other names?
Yes. Conflict of Interest is also referred to as Conflicts of Interest, Interest Conflict, Interest Conflicts in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Conflict of Interest sit in the medical classification?
Conflict of Interest falls under the broader medical category "Humanities" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: K01.752.566.479.095, N05.350.225). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Conflict of Interest?
For a plain-language explanation of Conflict of Interest - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Conflict of Interest" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D016265) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗