Avoiding currently unavoidable conflicts of interest in medical publishing by transparent peer review

The medical literature frequently addresses potential conflicts of interest, involving scientists and authors. Conflicts involving editorial offices of medical journals, have, however, only rarely been subject to discussion. The biggest opportunity for editorial conflicts presents during peer review. This commentary, therefore, argues in favour of changes in peer review. Improved and more transparent peer review will quite automatically avoid most potential conflicts of interest in medical publishing, including those currently widely considered unavoidable.