⚠️ Conflict-Laden Enthusiasm
Conflict-laden enthusiasm describes a situation in which the authors or promoters of a clinical intervention show exaggerated or uncritical support for a procedure, technique, or device while maintaining financial or professional relationships with entities that stand to benefit from its success.
This term implies:
- Enthusiasm that is not entirely objective,
- Possible bias in data interpretation or presentation,
- A blurring of scientific judgment due to underlying conflicts of interest.
It often arises in publications where the investigators have:
- Consulting roles,
- Equity ownership in startups,
- Industry-sponsored research,
- Advisory board participation.
In essence, it questions the neutrality of the evidence, highlighting the tension between innovation and influence.