An appearance of a conflict of interest can be as damaging as an actual conflict.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An appearance of a conflict of interest can create doubts and undermine trust in an individual or organization, just as much as if there was an actual conflict of interest. Perceptions of bias or self-interest can affect credibility and damage reputation. Therefore, it is important to avoid both actual conflicts of interest and also the appearance of such conflicts.

An Appearance of a Conflict of Interest Can Be as Damaging