Slashdot Mirror
The Best Way To Blow the Whistle
bmahersciwriter writes "Helene Hill thought she was close to retirement when, on a whim one day, she decided to check on a junior colleague's cell cultures. They were empty, she says, yet he produced data from them soon after. Blowing the whistle on what she thinks was research misconduct cost her 14 years and $200,000. See how she and other whistleblowers fared in this story from Nature."
Poorly. Rock the boat, and you can expect to be thrown off. It's the Human Way.
Unfortunately, the corporate world has become very much like the political arena.
Honesty is no longer treasured.
No matter if it's Helen Hill or Edward Snowden, as long as you blew the whistle on wrongdoings of others, you will get punished.
The world we live in is becoming more and more fake.
Lies worth much more than truth.
Fakeries work much better than honesty.
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
From the slashdot entry at the top: "Blowing the whistle on what she thinks was research misconduct cost her 14 years..."
From the linked article: "Hill would spend the next 14 years trying to expose what she believes to be a case of scientific misconduct. "
Reading the slashdot entry, I thought that she went to jail for 14 years, which she didn't. :)
Blowing the whistle on what she thinks was research misconduct cost her 14 years and $200,000.
What actually happened, from the article: she thinks a colleague forged results, and spent 14 years and $200,000 voluntarily pursuing court action, which repeatedly found there was no wrong-doing. She was not fired, was not fined, was not imprisoned.
The summary's deliberately phrased to be inflammatory, and imply that she was persecuted for whistle-blowing.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
Blowing the whistle on what she thinks was research misconduct cost her 14 years and $200,000.
This sounds juicy, and if you read the actual article, it is.
If anyone is wondering why it cost her $200,000 (and doesn't want to read the article, though I couldn't imagine why), it's because after the university committee on ethics determined that there was no evidence of misconduct, she decided to file a lawsuit, which she also lost.
Even after losing the lawsuit, she is still trying to get her coworker disciplined, which is why the dean warned her that she could lose her job as a result. But she is continuing. Choice quote from the article, in explanation of why she continues the fight:
“I want to finish,” she says. “It becomes almost an obsession.”
"First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
i would most definitely blow the whistle anonymously, maybe post on some forums and upload videos from a public library or public wifi hotspot while using fake names for signing on anywhere
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
to wind up swimming. The vast majority of folks are willing to pipe down in the face of consequences and repercussions. Call the other option what you will: foolhardy, insubordinate, obstinate, or brave... all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
1. Research assistant at a friend's lab was fabricating data in order to shirk off. They discovered it because the variance of the fabricated data was weird. He admitted it when challenged and was fired.
2. PhD student I know fabricated data in order to do less work. He did a bad job of it, though, and was easily caught. He admitted it but further action wasn't taken because the lab wanted to avoid a scandal and the results weren't published. Eventually he produced a shitty thesis and was told to re-submit. He failed to do this but is writing on his CV that he has the degree.
3. Post-doc currently on my floor claimed to have produced a set of data but we all know it's a lie because: a. he didn't us the equipment at any point. b. he doesn't know how to use the equipment. c. he can't show the raw data. Was challenged by his boss and denied it. That was last year, he's still here, he's done no work, he's an arrogant prick, everyone hates him and nobody talks to him any more.
4. Post-doc in a friend's lab manipulated raw data out of all recognition. He was caught because the raw data looked nothing like his claims. He was challenged and fired.
I'm sure this sort of thing happens all the time.
soylentnews.org
What's the best way to blow the whistle?
Take a deep breath, put your lips around the whistle's mouthpiece and exhale forcefully?
Oh, you meant figuratively? I'd say, that the best way is to avoid working with people who are unethical so whistle blowing isn't necessary. If you do happen to end up in a situation that you know something untoward is going on, report it. But only report it to someone you trust will behave responsibly and has the authority to resolve the issue. If that person doesn't exist, start polishing up your resume and look around for a better place to work.
Knowledge Brings Fear
Take a look at the Prof Sanna's ratings as a teacher: sounds like a real asset to the faculty, right?
Now notice when most of the flattering reviews were posted.
Now look at when Sanna resigned.
So she said "This data is faked!" the university looked in to it, they have committees for that kind of thing as I'm sure you know, and said that no, they could find no evidence of wrongdoing. So she got the federal Office of Research Integrity involved, they looked in to it, and said "Nope we see no evidence of wrongdoing here." So she took it to court, and lost the case, appealed it, and lost that case.
This would seem to be a case where she's wrong. She thought she saw misconduct, but she was incorrect, but she's pushing this anyhow.
Remember that just because scientific misconduct happens does not mean all accusations of misconduct are true.
Before you blow the whistle you need to contact a quality lawyer and be advised. You may need to file a report with an outside agency in order to get whistle blower protection in the courts. If you work with any kind of in house security or internal affairs you may gain extra protection if you are a paid informant. That pay could be one penny or one dollar. Also the timing of blowing the whistle could be vital. For example getting a review and a raise and blowing the whistle just afterward make sit harder to claim your work is defective. But back to the original point first get a lawyer. The reality is that you will probably be fired. Regardless of what the law says you probably can never return to work. But if done correctly you may earn a lot more money by blowing the whistle than you could ever hope to earn from work. So many companies are involved in illegal activities that whistle blowing could be an entire career for the right person.
what I tell her is this:
Yes, when you lie, your peers will punish you when they find out. But that's not the real issue.
When you're a liar, you're projecting a false self as a problem solving tool. This forces you to keep multiple versions of reality in your head.
Carried systematically across a lifetime, this will cause you to become a person made up of many people, none of whom are you.
Eventually, you will not know who you are, or what you believe, and when you meet a strong person with integrity, you will be unable to hold a form of your own in their presence.
This is a road to hell on earth, a hell contained within ones own mind, where the wind can blow your identity to and fro at a moments notice, and you live in a constant state of fearful reactionary adjustment of self.
What it all boils down to is this: people are not worth lying to.
http://experiencelife.com/article/walking-your-talk-the-path-of-personal-integrity/
http://melodylovesthis.com/parentingohyes/kids-and-lying-why-truth-matters/