[HEALTHE] Fraud in medical research

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Subj: [HEALTHE] Fraud in medical research

Date: 5/2/99 10:32:09 PM Central Daylight Time

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British Medical Journal, 1999;318:1164 ( 1 May )

Falsifying data is main problem in US research fraud review

Mark Pownall , London

Half of the US biomedical researchers accused of scientific fraud and

subjected to formal investigations in recent years have been found

guilty of misconduct, a new review has found.

In the biggest review of scientific fraud ever published, the US Office

of Research Integrity, has released data on nearly a thousand

allegations investigated over the five years from 1993 to 1997. The

review covered inquiries into allegations of misconduct into research

funded by the US Public Health Service, which has a budget of $15

bilion.

Altogether, 150 cases were formally investigated after a preliminary

assessment of whether there was a case to answer. Of these

investigations, 76 resulted in findings of scientific misconduct -

mostly falsification and fabrication but also plagiarism. Accusations of

research fraud were most likely to result in a ruling of misconduct for

the least experienced medical researchers, with allegations against

professors and assistant professors less likely to result in

a guilty verdict.

Larry Rhoades, director of the division of policy and education at the

Office of Research Integrity, said that the figures suggested that " the

system is more protective of senior than junior researchers, " and that

senior academics were more able to defend themselves against

accusations. " But we do not know why there are these patterns. We hope

researchers might find it interesting to look at these questions. "

Dr Rhoades pointed out that the academic grade of associate professor,

which is one step below the top ranking professor grade, seemed to

attract the most allegations of misconduct. Nearly a third (31%) of the

allegations were aimed at this grade, of which 17 out of 45 (38%)

resulted in findings of misconduct.

Most whistleblowers were senior academics, chiefly professors and

associate professors, and they made about half of the allegations. Dr

Rhoades called for international agreement on collecting data on

scientific fraud to enable those policing medical researchers to make

valid international comparisons.

Scientific Misconduct Investigations 1993-1997, is available from the

Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Research Integrity, Suite

700, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, USA (tel: +1 301 445

5300).

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