Ethics and Conflict of Interest

ATS members and others involved in the clinical practice and/or research of pulmonary medicine, critical care, and sleep medicine face complex ethical questions regularly. These challenges have led to an increasing number of activities within the ATS that concern relevant issues and are intended to advise and assist clinicians, researchers, patients, and families. For example, in recent years, official ATS statements have been published on shared decision-making, managing conscientious objections, responding to requests for potentially inappropriate therapies, ethical considerations in organ donation, and palliative care. Ethical issues have been discussed in manuscripts published in ATS journals, sessions at the annual ATS International Conference, and podcasts on clinical ethics issues.

• Conflict of Interest (COI): ATS members and others involved in ATS activities have diverse interests and relationships that contribute to the success of the Society, but also at times could cause actual or potential conflicts of interest (COI) that must be disclosed and mitigated (managed) effectively to maintain scientific integrity. Therefore, everyone carrying out an official ATS role is required to complete a formal process for disclosing and mitigating COI relevant to their role. This process must be completed prior to assuming the role.

Official ATS roles include (but aren't limited to):

• Planning or presenting at the annual ATS Conference or other ATS accredited continuing medical education, including Chapter CME
• Development of official ATS documents such as clinical practice guidelines
• Candidacy or election or appointment to office, such as the Board of Directors, President-appointed committees, and Assembly leaders
• Officially representing ATS within another organization or in ATS advocacy to legislative or regulatory officials.
• Submission of manuscripts to ATS Journals requires completing a separate manuscript-specific disclosure process.
• Persons required to disclose for an official ATS role other than Journal manuscript submission are notified and provided instructions by automatic e-mails sent from our online COI system, using ethicsoffice@thoracic.org.

ATS Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest ATS Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee recommends to the Board of Directors policies for addressing biomedical ethical issues as well as organizational ethical issues, including conflicts of interest. Its goal is to ensure that the ATS is ethical in conduct and effective in advocacy on ethical issues important to the patients we serve. The Committee monitors relevant policies of other societies and reviews recommendations from healthcare experts, ethicists, and other resources to maintain the professional standing and integrity of the Society in all of its affairs. In addition, it serves as a resource to review issues of ethics and conflict of interest for the ATS and advises the ATS President, Executive Committee, assemblies and other relevant committees on rapidly emerging issues related to biomedical and organizational ethics, including conflict of interest. Also see the Committee’s benchmarks and membership roster at (Link to committee)

Question or suggestions contact Shane McDermott (Bioethics) at smcdermott@thoracic.org or 212-315-8650.or John Harmon (COI) at jharmon@thoracic.org or 212-315-xxxx