This is certainly an act of dishonesty--and honesty is at the core of
academics. It should not be tolerated. She should be reported at the very
least to the chair. I'd read my university's policy statements and/or the
faculty handbook for guidance. Because our IRB is autonomous, I would not
have the authority to prohibit her from conducting the protocol, but I would
certainly let the IRB know my opinion. And, yes, it is misconduct. If she
does this at the outset, what will happen during the study? And what about
the students? What kind of model is this for them?
I think in cases that go before the IRB that a guiding principle should be
"Do the right thing." Dishonesty is not the right thing.
-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG]On Behalf
Of Barbara Gray
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:31 AM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: [RESADM-L] Forged Signature on IRB Application
Compliance/IRB staffers out there, how would you deal with this situation?
We require department chairs to sign off on human subject applications.
A faculty member is in a rush to have an human subject protocol approved
(under expedited criteria) for a very innocuous procedure--virtually no
risk at all except it is a phyical measurement that does not fit within
exemption criteria. (Note that the project involves students who will
be collecting the data as part of a class assignment.) She indicates
she'll just sign for her chair, we indicate that she can't do that, and,
lo and behold, the signature page comes in a couple of days later with
the chair's signature forged.
Would you take this to her chair? Her dean? The provost? Would you
prohibit her from implementing the protocol (which will impact the
students in her class)? Would you bar her from doing human subject
research for a period of time? Is this "misconduct" that should be
referred for handling through ORI regs? (note that we've made our
misconduct policy applicable to all research and scholarship, not just
that funded externally or by the Feds.) Personally, I find the faculty
member's action offensive and unethical (if not downright illegal)--if
she will do this on an application, might she do the same someday on a
consent form?? But, in the big scheme of things, is this worth going to
the mat on? After all, it's only falsification of an internal
signature, not scientific data....
Thanks.
--
==================================================================
Barbara H. Gray, Director
Office of Research & Grants Administration
College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Campus Location: 407-G Bell Bldg.
Office: 843.953.5673 Desk: 843.953.5885 Fax: 843.953.6577
e-mail: xxxxxx@cofc.edu URL: http://www.orga.cofc.edu/
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