Contributors' conflict of interest

Many of the contributors to The Guidelines have received funding from pharmaceutical manufacturers for research, consultancy or lectures. Readers should be aware that these relationships inevitably colour opinions on such matters as drug selection or preference.

We cannot therefore guarantee that guidance provided here is free of indirect influence of the pharmaceutical industry but hope to have mitigated this risk by providing copious literature support for statements made. As regards direct influence, no pharmaceutical company has been allowed to view or comment on any drafts or proofs of The Guidelines and none has made any request for the inclusion or omission of any topic, advice or guidance. To this extent, The Guidelines have been written independent of the pharmaceutical industry.