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 O N L I N E   R E S E A R C H   E T H I C S   C O U R S E

Section Three: Institutional Responsibility

CASE STUDY: Expensive Lesson

Dr. Phinney should be more careful about protecting her research. Perhaps it is time for her to think about looking for a new job.

Researchers should not have to protect their research from being plagiarized by another. It is up to others to refrain from plagiarizing. If Dr. Phinney is a victim of research misconduct, it is up to the institution to protect Dr. Phinney. She should not have to leave to be safe.

The outcome of the real case is that Dr. Phinney was compelled to go public with her accusation and was not protected against retaliation. In 1993, the Washtenaw County Circuit Court found that Dr. Adelman violated the Whistleblower's Protection Act and Dr. Perlmutter committed fraud. The court ordered the University of Michigan to pay Dr. Phinney $1.1 million in damages. That verdict was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which added an additional $250,000 interest due.

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