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The "Editor's comment" on this article ("Reporting of financial conflicts of interest by Canadian clinical practice guideline producers: a descriptive study") concluded with this call to action: "Users of Canadian CPGs must demand greater transparency".
I demand greater transparency in how guidelines are produced. There, I've said it.
My demand for greater transparency will most certainly have no bearing on how guidelines are produced. Apart from ignoring a given guideline (which I already do), my voice as an end-user has no impact here.
Instead, I would challenge the editorial board of the CMAJ that this is their role. Guidelines which aren't published in reputable medical journals have limited impact, and the journals are the only ones who can set - and enforce - standards related to transparency in guideline production, as in any other area of medical research/publication. I challenge the CMAJ to turn down guidelines which do not transparently address real and perceived conflicts of interest (and this goes beyond financial conflicts). It is only you who can make a difference here - not us.