Conflict of interest is sometimes used to refer to both a conflict of interest and a conflict of commitment. This involves a general situation where “legal obligations or widely recognized professional norms are likely to be compromised by a person’s other interests, particulary if those interests are not disclosed.” (AAHC, p. 254.)
Conflict of Interest - This most often involves money. This is defined by AHERF’s policy as the real or apparent interference of one person’s interests with the interests of another person, where potential bias may occur due to prior or existing personal or professional relationships. However, one can also have a conflict amongst your personal interests or with the interests of institutions. For example, a conflict of interest would exist if you worked in an animal care facility, owned a large amount of stock in Charles Rivers, and did not disclose this to people who asked your advice about where to order animals for their research.
Conflict of Commitment - This most often involves time. A conflict of commitment exists when an individual’s primary loyalties are in doubt. For example, you are the administrator of a company’s research animal facility. Is your primary duty to the welfare of the animals, the welfare of the company, or the welfare of your employees?
Conflicts of interest and/or commitment may, at times, be unavoidable. But, if unavoidable, they need to be disclosed and minimized.
Reference:
Association of Academic Health Centers. “New Opportunities Create New Problems,” in R. Bulger, E. Heitman, and S. Reiser, The Ethical Dimensions of the Biological Sciences, Cambridge Univ. Press (New York: 1993), pp. 251259.