Misconduct and fraud in research: social and legislative issues symposium of the Society of University Surgeons.

Abstract

The symposium was concluded with a question and answer period, which served to clarify and further emphasize the aforementioned issues. Many concerns of coauthorship responsibilities, due process, and potential sanctions were discussed. Moral and ethical issues reflecting the extent of punishment, reporting of misconduct to hospitals and specialty boards, and the almost assured litigation and counter-litigation were approached with considerable apprehension and concern. Misconduct in science will clearly be monitored more closely than in the past. Increasing coauthorship responsibility, conscientious senior investigator supervision, and institutional cooperation will provide the framework to discourage dishonesty in science and encourage proper educational development of both young and established investigators in a milieu of scientific integrity.