Fwd: [SSRI-Research] NIH Rule change Whistle blowers-Comments before June 15

[Guest guest]

JustSayNo

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 02:09:48 -0000

[sSRI-Research] NIH Rule change Re: Whistle blowers-Comments before

June 15

 

ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP)

Promoting openness and full disclosure

http://www.ahrp.org

 

Dear friends and colleagues,

 

A request for comment about NIH proposed new research misconduct rule

 

See Fed Register:

http://ori.dhhs.gov/multimedia/acrobat/42CFRParts50and93.pdf

 

The new rule, I believe is meant to protect research institutions

from the effective sting of a knowledgeable whistle blower.

 

The new rule would redefine whistle-blower as " complainant " and would

limit the role of the complainant. Under the old rule, the whistle-

blower participated in the process helping investigators by leading

them to the evidence, etc.

 

But as I see it, if the whistle blower is prevented from actively

reviewing the documents submitted by the institution then more than

likely the institutions--that have a financial stake in the research,

whether conducted ethically or unethically--will more than likely not

be inclined to find a basis for the complaint....

 

We have to try to stop this rule from being adopted since it would

remove even this underutilized safeguard.

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education notes:

" Institutions would not be required to show reports about their

investigations to whistle-blowers, as current policy dictates,

although the institutions could share the reports if they

wished....It clarifies that the complainant becomes a witness after

the initial complaint is filed and does not control the process " of

the investigation... In some cases, he said, whistle-blowers have

sought such influence. Instead, institutions would retain prime

responsibility for conducting investigations, as they do under the

existing rule, the proposal states. Universities would be allowed to

show complainants the reports to check for accuracy, Mr. Pascal

said. " http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?

id=rgogfuaeozsookl435jo0gpag327b58l

 

The response of the government to the series of research-related

scandals is to remove whatever avenues have been used to promote

compliance with ethical standards.

 

Vera

 

 

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav

Tel: 212-595-8974

e-mail: veracare

 

 

 

 

 

 

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