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Scientific misconduct: a perspective from India

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Abstract

Misconduct in medical science research is an unfortunate reality. Science, for the most part, operates on the basis of trust. Researchers are expected to carry out their work and report their findings honestly. But, sadly, that is not how science always gets done. Reports keep surfacing from various countries about work being plagiarised, results which were doctored and data fabricated. Scientific misconduct is scourge afflicting the field of science, unfortunately with little impact in developing countries like India especially in health care services. A recent survey and a meta-analysis suggest that the few cases that do float up represents only tip of a large iceberg. This paper therefore highlights reasons for misconduct with steps that can be taken to reduce misconduct. Also the paper throws light on Indian scenario in relation to misconduct.

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Notes

  1. http://www.nsf.gov/oig/remisreg.pdf.

  2. http://www.scidev.net/global/ethics/news/indian-scientists-call-for-scientific-misconduct-body.html.

  3. http://hindu.com/2002/10/11/stories/2002101100151000.htm.

  4. Report on INSA-SSV Seminar on Ethics in Science.

  5. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/183621/indiatopsacademicfraud.html.

  6. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Plagiarism-punch-knocks-out-IITs/Article1-611043.aspx.

  7. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Centre-for-DNA-andFingerprintingDiagnostics-scientist-in-plagiarism-controversy/articleshow/16496700.cms.

  8. http://www.scientificvalues.org/cases.html.

  9. SSV News and Views 11(1) June 2013.

  10. Retractionwatch.com/2012/07/16/how-can-institutions-prevent-scientificmisconduct/.

  11. http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/29301/title/Opinion-How-to-prevent-fraud/.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, M.S, India

    Husain Sabir, Subhash Kumbhare & Amit Parate

  2. Department of Periodontics, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, M.P, India

    Rajesh Kumar

  3. Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, M.S, India

    Suroopa Das

Authors
  1. Husain Sabir
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  2. Subhash Kumbhare
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  3. Amit Parate
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  4. Rajesh Kumar
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  5. Suroopa Das
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Correspondence to Husain Sabir.

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Sabir, H., Kumbhare, S., Parate, A. et al. Scientific misconduct: a perspective from India. Med Health Care and Philos 18, 177–184 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-014-9603-8

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