UpToDate's policies and editorial process are designed to ensure that our content remains impartial and unbiased. To accomplish this, we collect information on relevant financial relationships with commercial interests from contributors as well as their spouses or partners. Contributors to a topic include one or more authors, section editors, and deputy editors, as well as additional reviewers as deemed appropriate. Individuals who do not provide this information may not participate in the editorial process and are replaced.
Deputy editors are physicians who work primarily at UpToDate. The deputy editor on a topic is required to not have any conflicts relevant to the topics they edit. In addition, deputy editors may not accept funds from "educational" arms of health industry organizations (such as speakers' bureaus).
A primary responsibility of the deputy editor is to prevent inappropriate material from being published in UpToDate topic reviews. The deputy editor on a topic works to ensure that any possible author and editor conflicts are appropriately evaluated and mitigated. Methods of mitigation include peer review, revision or elimination of content, and/or replacement of contributors. The Editor-in-Chief appoints a Conflicts of Interest Committee to review issues as they arise.
Possible conflicts are also addressed through requirements for references to be provided to support the content. Appropriately referenced content is required of all authors and must conform to UpToDate standards of evidence.
Disclosures from contributors and their spouses or partners are displayed at the top of each topic.
This policy last reviewed on August 27, 2014.