Citation

Bouter LM, Hendrix S. Account. Res. 2017; 24(6): 359-366.

Affiliation

b Professor for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Morphology , University Hasselt , Hasselt , Belgium .

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08989621.2017.1327814

PMID

28481674

Abstract

Whistle blowers play an important role diagnosing research misconduct, but often experience severe negative consequences. That is also true for incorrectly accused scientists. Both categories are vulnerable and deserve protection. Whistle blowers must proceed carefully and cautiously. Anonymous whistle blowing should be discouraged but cannot be ignored when the allegations are specific, serious and plausible. When accused of a breach of research integrity it's important to be as transparent as possible. Sometimes accusations are false in the sense that the accuser knows or should know that the allegations are untrue. A mala fide whistle blower typically does not act carefully and we postulate a typology that may help in detecting them. Striking the right balance between whistle blower protection and timely unmasking false and identifying incorrect accusations is a tough dilemma leaders of research institutions have to face.

Language: en