Research misconduct should get a new system – New Technology

       

In Sweden, universities are investigating the suspicion of research misconduct. It has met with fierce criticism, not least from the Research Council for many years pushed the issue to bring about change.

After the SVT documentary about KI surgeon Paolo Macchiarini who operated the trachea, the current system ended in the spotlight. Macchiarini reported for research fraud but was acquitted in August by the National Institute’s headmaster Anders Hamsten, despite the fact that an outside investigator concluded that he should be condemned.

In October, the government appointed a commission to review the cases Sweden needs a new way to deal with suspicions of fraud and misconduct. Investigators are Margaretha Fahlgren, a professor at Uppsala University.

– We are looking at the systems that exist in other countries. What we have seen is that most countries have a more central authority to investigate scientific fraud than what we have in Sweden, she says.

As an example, she mentions Germany and Denmark, where the rules changed after the much-publicized scandals research fraud.

– in Sweden, an independent expert group on misconduct at the Central Ethical Review Board (CEPN), but they only received one to two cases per year since its inception in 2010.

today determines universities themselves if they want to ask help from there. There is no Research Council wants to see a change on.

– We want it to be compulsory to suspicions of fraud and misconduct are investigated by an independent body, says Sven Stafström, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.

investigators are now to find out how many complaints of fraud and misconduct made so far. Other information collected received indicates that competition in higher education internationally and in Sweden nowadays are razor sharp.

– The temptation that might not really follow a good research may have increased, says Margaretha Fahlgren.

What is more central to the inquiry to look at?

how to go about getting good work environment that maintains a good research is as important as looking at how suspicions cheating should be handled. Moreover, it is important to gather around a common definition of research misconduct is missing today.

On 25 November this year, the inquiry was completed and handed over to the government.

Read more articles on KI scandal here