Policy Executive Summary
Policy Title: Research Integrity in Research
Executive Summary:
The Research Integrity Policy and Procedure provides guidance regarding the policy and procedure for reporting, assessing, inquiring into, and investigating allegations of research misconduct.
Research Misconduct is falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism in the proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting of research. Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
Each of the following must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence to support a finding of research misconduct: a. There has been a significant departure from the accepted practices of the scientific community; and b. The misconduct was committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly.
Key Policy Information:
Members of Tower Health hospitals have an obligation to report research misconduct.
The Policy and Procedure provides information about processes for reporting, assessing, inquiring into, and investigating allegations of research misconduct.
A Research Compliance Oversight Committee may be convened to review the Allegation. An Inquiry may be initiated, depending on the results from the initial assessment. An Inquiry may lead to an Investigation. The purpose of the Investigation is to collect and evaluate relevant evidence of the alleged research misconduct.
Possible outcomes of an investigation are: No Findings of Misconduct; Good Faith Determination; Finding of Misconduct; and Appeals.