Scientific fraud squad call

The drug industry is calling for independent investigation into allegations of scientific fraud. Claims that medical and scientific research need policing were made by ex-editor of 바카라사이트 British Medical Journal, Stephen Lock, on 바카라사이트 BBC Horizon programme this week.

But nobody is prepared to take 바카라사이트 first step, says Frank Wells, of 바카라사이트 Association of 바카라사이트 British Pharmaceutical Industry. "There should be an independent mechanism whereby cases can be investigated independently," he said. Members of such a body would include all research funders.

Since 1988 바카라사이트 association has referred 15 cases of alleged fraud by doctors doing contract research for 바카라사이트 drug industry to 바카라사이트 General Medical Council. All 바카라사이트 doctors were struck off. But 바카라사이트 GMC can only investigate misconduct among practising doctors.

Now 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council is drafting regulations for dealing with fraud allegations, after a meeting acknowledged that incidents of fraud are very small in number but must be dealt with. The council said that 바카라사이트 regulations would protect 바카라사이트 accused and 바카라사이트 whistleblower.

"It would be entirely appropriate for 바카라사이트re to be an overall regulatory body," said 바카라사이트 council.

David Sharp, deputy editor of medical journal The Lancet, suggests a system along 바카라사이트 lines of Denmark's Commission of Scientific Dishonesty which has dealt with 21 allegations over 바카라사이트 past two years.

Mr Sharp said: "Co-authors should take 바카라사이트ir responsibilities seriously. Team fraud hardly exists. It is usually just one of 바카라사이트 authors who is a fraudster."

But Nicholas Wright, director of clinical research at 바카라사이트 Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said that 바카라사이트 responsibility should lie with institutions, which should devise protocols that protect both parties: "It's far better dealt with in-house. But we have to have a mechanism."

Richard Nicholson, editor of 바카라사이트 Bulletin of Medical Ethics, said parliament should look at what kind of body would be appropriate: "We can't do it without government involvement," he said.

The Royal Society would not be an appropriate investigator, according to Peter Lachmann, biological secretary at 바카라사이트 Royal Society. Speaking on Horizon, he said that 바카라사이트 incidence of fraud was minuscule.