When a potential conflict of interest arises, what is the best course of action?

• A. Ignore and proceed
• B. Fully disclose and if needed recuse from the decision
• C. Hide it unless asked
• D. Postpone all actions

Answer: (B)

Handling potential conflicts of interest hinges on transparency and safeguarding trust. The best course is to fully disclose any possible conflict and, if the situation could affect your judgment, recuse yourself from the decision. Disclosure lets others evaluate the relevance of the conflict and determine the appropriate management steps, while recusal removes your influence from the decision-making process to protect objectivity and the patient’s or client’s interests. Ignoring, hiding, or postponing the issue fails to address the risk of biased outcomes and can undermine trust and lead to negative consequences. Documenting the disclosure and following organizational policies or ethics guidelines further supports ethical practice.