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

Misconduct and fraud in scientific research has recently attracted wide attention from researchers, government officials, and institutional administrators and has resulted in national guidelines for definition, investigation, and sanctions. This report summarizes the results of a questionnaire sent to the active members of the Society of University Surgeons in 1989 concerning misconduct and fraud in research. The report also gives the opinions of the participants, who included Richard L. Simmons, MD, professor and chairman, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 'Quality assurance in laboratory research'; Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD, chief editor, American Journal of Surgery, professor and chairman, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, 'Peer review-Success or failure'; and Barbara Williams, PhD, senior scientist, Office of Scientific Integrity, National Institutes of Health, 'Office of scientific integrity-National approach to quality assurance.'