Research Ethics
In response to the article, “An Unwelcome Discovery” that I read and the movie, “And the Band Played On” that we watched, I can only say that I am thoroughly disgusted by the lack of integrity displayed by these head researchers. The spirit of research lies in the desire to investigate, predict, and deter conditions affecting the human race. Without such a desire, one might as well turn to mowing lawns as a livelihood.
With this being said, it’s such a shame that investigators like Eric Poehlman and Robert Gallo damage society’s perception of science through plagiarism and fabrication. It’s bad enough that many misconstrue investigative inquiry as immoral, or believe the intricacies of life incomprehensible to any being less than divine. In a day that exaggerated media coverage can destroy the reputation of innocent individuals or institutions, the Poehlmans and the Gallos of the scientific community risk the credibility established by researchers over the centuries.
In reference to Dr. Dave McClay’s lecture, I now comprehend how laziness and carelessness could play a distinguishable role in research quality. Without the utmost attention to one’s experiment, the smallest of inconsistencies could skew results, and frequent repetitions of such practices could sabotage an entire project. Although I take every message that has been thrown at us throughout this “ethics week” with all seriousness and deliberation, I will view the latter as the real take-home message. I just don’t understand how a person could be tempted to invent or steal data with such dishonorable motives and foul implications that will follow otherwise. Thus, I will focus on performing even the most minor of tasks in the lab with the utmost attention. Now if only that could negate my clumsiness….