It is
very unfortunate that more than accidental errors and sloppy blunders,
retracted articles and papers are mainly withdrawn from publication as a result
of scientific breach intentionally published fake data or any other serious
error. In reality, more than 65% of the
2000 or so papers studied were withdrawn because of poor ethical verdict.
Through statistical analysis, it has brought to light that high impact journals
have been jeopardized through the escalating rate of withdrawals over the last
decade.
Kirby Lee and Lisa Bero suggested,
“Although reviewing raw data can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive,
having such a policy would hold authors more accountable for the accuracy of
their data and potentially reduce scientific fraud or misconduct.”
Some of
the most dazzling examples of scientific deception which happened in 2012 are
discussed below.
One of
the scandals was related to Eric Smart who was a biomedical researcher at the
University of Kentucky. He was being charged for fabricating and falsifying 45
figures over a period of ten years. He was famous and well-regarded for his
contributions in the field of molecular mechanisms, cardiovascular disease and
diabetes; even though he used data from knock out mouse models which never
existed.
Another
case was related to Yoshitaka Fuji, a Japanese anesthesiologist, who started
his career in falsification at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University ,
followed by the University of Tsukuba and finally at the Toha University ,
where he was dismissed. After detailed investigation, it came into knowledge
that he was actually dumped for reporting fake patients in his clinical studies
which he never visited.
Some
researchers were being caught by Retraction Watch for writing shimmering expert
reviews for their own papers. When they were asked by the journal editors to
recommend names of experts in their respective field who did not contribute in
their research, they provided fake names and e-mails which came back to their
own inboxes.
The
conclusions drawn from around 34,000 criminal drug cases left a question mark
earlier this year, when forensic chemist Annie Dookhan was discovered to have
falsified records on samples she was assigned to process. In spite of
falsifying signatures and did not conduct tests, she recorded them as complete.
On account of her actions, a number of defendants may have been mistakenly
imprisoned while the correctly accused were free to go.
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