Should I be doing this?

[dartmed]

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Edit. Trying to maintain anonymity.

 

[TACMON]

not sure the extent of the "use" of students, but this is not uncommon
I have been involved in projects where students gather all the data, with no name mention
I am sure they are willing to write LORs? No?
Get what you can out of the experience or don't do it

 

[sector9]

So, there is this program at a hospital that employs couple hundred pre-medical students to do research...except they neither pay nor compensate any of the students. The students work 8-15 hour weeks during the school year, and contribute to research. The guy takes all the credit for the research that these students did (aka just acknowledges the program, but not specific individuals). I feel terrible that he uses these students. My prof is encouraging me to write an article on this. But, I am afraid I am going to get in trouble because the head guy for the research program is an associate professor of medicine.

What should I do? Should I take the courage and write an article for the press? I would be standing-up against the program. Pretty sure I will make enemies. I feel terrible for these students though. How could anyone have the heart to do this to students? After talking to a couple ppl, they say they feel used.

What exactly do you want them to do? Include hundreds of premeds as coauthors on the paper that is the end result?

What exactly are you exposing? Unless these premeds are being coerced and lied to before signing up, then they should be able to make their own decisions about whether or not they want to provide uncompensated labor for a professor or not. Unpaid undergrads are involved in stuff all the time just for a line on a resume or an AMCAS entry

 

[Double Trouble]

What exactly do you want them to do? Include hundreds of premeds as coauthors on the paper that is the end result?

What exactly are you exposing? Unless these premeds are being coerced and lied to before signing up, then they should be able to make their own decisions about whether or not they want to provide uncompensated labor for a professor or not. Unpaid undergrads are involved in stuff all the time just for a line on a resume or an AMCAS entry

Lol, this

 

[thlaxer]

I would mind my own business if I was in your position. You have nothing to gain and potentially a lot to lose. If the students really felt like they were being used in the program, couldn't they just quit and find a paying research job? If someone had to expose this 'bad behavior,' it should be one of those students, not you imo. Just my thoughts.

Out of curiosity, which professor encouraged you to write an article about this 😱? Does he/she secretly hate you (only semi-joking here lol)?

 

[plumhill]

Who is this professor that is encouraging you to write an article? And where do you plan on publishing it?
I sympathize with you about speaking out on unfair practices and whatnot, but if you are afraid you have too much to lose, but still want to get word out, you can write an editorial or publish anonymously. But frankly, I don't see much of a point to writing an article against this. The prof isn't really doing anything wrong, he IS at least acknowledging the program, and students involved can say that a program they were involved in was published (even if they themselves are not written-out co-authors).

 

[dartmed]

Who is this professor that is encouraging you to write an article? And where do you plan on publishing it?
I sympathize with you about speaking out on unfair practices and whatnot, but if you are afraid you have too much to lose, but still want to get word out, you can write an editorial or publish anonymously. But frankly, I don't see much of a point to writing an article against this. The prof isn't really doing anything wrong, he IS at least acknowledging the program, and students involved can say that a program they were involved in was published (even if they themselves are not written-out co-authors).

Decided on not pursuing it. Too much to lose, and little to gain. Along with the fact that many of these students voluntarily sign-up for the program.

Thanks for the perspective, fellas!