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This article discusses the potential conflicts of interest that arise when medical researchers receive private funding from pharmaceutical companies interested in their work. Topics include the lack of checks and balances in the medical research field to prevent the scandals, the personal experiences of medical research Robert Lindsay in his interactions with pharmaceutical company Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories concerning the sale of their antiosteoporosis estrogen drug Premarin, and the importance of transparency in research and scientific scholarly publication and communication to prevent these conflicts of interest.

The article focuses on the three draft mares living at Duchess Sanctuary in Oregon who stood tethered in concrete-floored stalls and hooked to bags to collect their urine at a Canadian Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) which contains estrogen that is used by Pfizer Inc. to manufacture a Premarin drug.