Research Integrity Violation
The provider violated the ethical principle of Integrity (Answer C) by selectively removing a complication case from the research report to manipulate results.
Understanding the Violation
The act of removing the bleeding complication case constitutes selective reporting and data manipulation, which directly violates research integrity principles 1. This behavior represents intentional research misconduct through:
- Selective reporting of results where findings with unfavorable impact were deliberately withheld from the final report 1
- Biased and inconsistent reporting that leads to irreproducible results and erosion of public trust in science 1
- Intentional breach of integrity that qualifies as research misconduct, not merely poor practice 2, 3
Why Integrity is the Correct Answer
Research integrity encompasses honesty, transparency, and respect for ethical standards throughout all stages of research, including data collection, analysis, and reporting 4, 5. The provider's action specifically violated:
- The obligation for full disclosure of negative results, which is imperative in clinical trial reporting 1
- The requirement that all adverse and unanticipated events must be reported in research 1
- The fundamental principle that selective publication and selective reporting undermines the credibility of clinical research 1
Distinguishing from Other Principles
Beneficence and non-maleficence (options A and D) relate to maximizing benefits and minimizing harms to research participants during the conduct of the study 1. While the provider's action may ultimately harm future patients who receive biased information, the direct violation is the falsification of research data, not the treatment of the individual patient.
Research justice (option B) pertains to fair participant selection and equal access to research benefits and risks across populations 1. This scenario does not involve issues of participant selection or equitable distribution.
Critical Implications
This type of misconduct has devastating effects on the acceptance of clinical trial results and brings all research under scrutiny 1. The consequences include:
- Irreproducible results and substantial waste of resources 1
- Impaired study validity that may lead to patients suffering unnecessarily 1
- Loss of public trust in the scientific enterprise 1, 4
- Potential for medical license restriction or revocation when discovered 6
The Broader Context
Research misconduct is far more common than generally perceived and is often driven by incentives to pursue publications for career advancement 7. The scientific community must recognize that where research integrity ends, research misconduct starts 3, and intentional breaches like selective data removal constitute serious violations requiring institutional reporting and disciplinary action 1.