UK
research is plagued with misconduct, according to a survey of 2,700
scientists by the British Medical Journal. It found that 13 per cent had
first-hand knowledge of UK-based researchers deliberately altering or
fabricating data, while 6 per cent were aware of misconduct that had not
been properly investigated.
The BMJ released
the results at a conference in London where experts pushed for stronger
action to tackle what they said was a problem being ignored by many
universities, hospitals and other scientific institutions.
Fiona
Godlee, BMJ editor, said the survey showed “that there is a substantial
number of cases and that UK institutions are failing to investigate
adequately, if at all.
“The BMJ has been told of junior academics being advised to keep
concerns to themselves to protect their careers, being bullied into not
publishing their findings, or having their contracts terminated when
they spoke out,” she added.
Speaker after speaker at the meeting said Britain should not be
complacent just because the most publicised cases of fraud in recent
years had taken place in other countries. “The British public do not
know what is going on,” said Dr Godlee. “People need to realise that
misconduct is affecting patients every day and it is a misappropriation
of public funds.”
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