1. A faculty member is the editor of a textbook in her specialty, and receives a royalty based on the number of books sold. She requires all students in her course to purchase that textbook.
#	Response Date	Comment
1.	Tue, 3/13/07 10:52 PM	Is the textbook the definitive work in that specialty? In that case, the conflict of interest is minimal. However, if the textbook is unproven as an effective text for teaching students, then the COI is very serious.
2.	Tue, 3/13/07 10:54 PM	if it's the best book in the field, i don't see the problem.
3.	Tue, 3/13/07 10:58 PM	Is her textbook the best in the field? If it is - this situation is a win-win for both sides.
4.	Tue, 3/13/07 11:00 PM	If the department views the textbook as adequate to cover the material then I see no conflict of interest. The professor should still receive royalties.
5.	Tue, 3/13/07 11:15 PM	If that textbook is ideal for the course and prepares students well, then I don't see a problem. I imagine that faculty sometimes want pieces from a number of different sources--if she puts everything into one source and it teaches the topic best, then there's nothing wrong with that.
6.	Tue, 3/13/07 11:26 PM	Depends on if the textbook is any good!
7.	Wed, 3/14/07 12:25 AM	If "she" was the only decision maker to make the book a paert of the mandatory texts!
8.	Wed, 3/14/07 12:40 AM	Is the textbook the best out there or is she just collecting the money? Who else has approved and recommended the book for students use?
9.	Wed, 3/14/07 2:44 AM	It can be if the instructor limits information presented to solely their own publication as opposed to supplementing it with other sources, especially if their text is not as good as another option. For this reason, under such circumstances, the Dean or director of that course or a group of selected individuals knowledgabel in that area should evaluate the textbook compared to others, if it is the best option, then use it. If it is not, then use the other option. This decision should not be solely the responsibility of the professor who edited the book.
10.	Wed, 3/14/07 3:38 AM	If the text book is amazing, the best one out there for me to learn on, then requiring us to buy it is beneficial, as it will help up learn much better. However, if it is just an average book, or a bad text, than there is a major COI
11.	Wed, 3/14/07 3:44 AM	If this is really the best book for the students to use, and if she uses part of the royalty to improve the class (lectures, audiovisuals etc.)
12.	Wed, 3/14/07 4:45 PM	If her textbook is one recommended and used by other medical schools then I would be less suspicious and not really have a COI.
13.	Wed, 3/14/07 11:39 PM	It would be "No COI" if the text book was one that was commonly used by other med students for the same subject/clerkship.
14.	Thu, 3/15/07 9:42 PM	Very serious if it's an absolute requirement. Small to moderate if she'll allow exceptions/alternatives.
15.	Fri, 3/16/07 6:36 PM	If this textbook is the most widely accepted, expert text on a subject, I would expect that it should be recommended to me, regardless of who wrote or edited the text. If this were not the case, I would consider this a moderate COI.
16.	Sat, 3/17/07 4:34 PM	This situation is practiced in many fields (which does not necessarily make it alright). It always raises a red flag in my mind when practiced. However, if the text information is deemed accurate and reliable by critical review of practitioners in the same field (those with insight into the relative accuracy and clinical/practical value of the information and without bias (i.e. no relation to the author, gain, etc.) it would contain COI but an admissible practice, in my mind. I would still wonder about the person behind the action, however. It may simply reflect business saavy, esp if the info is good. Also, there are ways around required purchase in protest.
17.	Sun, 3/18/07 3:14 PM	If its the best text on the topic then students should read the book. If the book is worthless and not used at any other institutions, then its an enormous COI.
18.	Mon, 3/19/07 4:34 AM	If the text is considered a standard nationally, it would be reasonable for the professor to demand that standard. For example, if a pathology professor was an editor for Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, it would be irresponsible not to require the text for a class. However, if the professor is an editor for some lesser known pathology text and required it, that would be a conflict (not to mention a failure of his/her post as a professor).
19.	Mon, 3/19/07 10:59 PM	i had a prof in undergrad who fit this description. but he used the royalties for a study party for us. this is a bit much to expect for 100 plus students but it made it seem more fair and then he was very knowledgeable regarding the text.