Unethical ABEM In-training behavior? Results when?

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Got email from our PD today stating they had been notified by ABEM that the Feb in-training results for ALL PROGRAMS will be delayed for an unspecified period of time because there are credible allegations that a program was copying and distributing the test questions.

Anyone know anything more about this?

Anyone know when we get our results?

 

[GeneralVeers]

Got email from our PD today stating they had been notified by ABEM that the Feb in-training results for ALL PROGRAMS will be delayed for an unspecified period of time because there are credible allegations that a program was copying and distributing the test questions.

Anyone know anything more about this?

Anyone know when we get our results?

That would be my (former) program. They threatened to nullify all of our inservice scores due to the alleged actions of 2 individuals.

A list of questions "similar" to those on the inservice was allegedly distributed. They are threatening to fine two of my colleagues $1000 per question, claiming that they cannot use those questions any more, and the cost of developing new questions is approximately $1000 each.

If fined, my colleagues would have to pay $200,000 each.

 

[trkd]

That would be my (former) program. They threatened to nullify all of our inservice scores due to the alleged actions of 2 individuals.

A list of questions "similar" to those on the inservice was allegedly distributed. They are threatening to fine two of my colleagues $1000 per question, claiming that they cannot use those questions any more, and the cost of developing new questions is approximately $1000 each.

If fined, my colleagues would have to pay $200,000 each.

Holy cow, that's full on! 😱

 

[southerndoc]

How did they copy and distribute the questions? I don't recall my test being similar to the previous two tests. Is ABEM thinking your program memorizes test questions for many years and then distributes them?

Maybe I'm forgetful and do not remember the questions being similar.

 

[Apollyon]

the cost of developing new questions is approximately $1000 each.

I think that that is a little disingenuous on the part of ABEM, as the USMLE Secretariat has a reserve of about 60,000 or so questions for Step I, and they estimate that a question costs about $500 for writing, testing, and verification (making sure it's a statistically sound question).

 

[Jeff698]

I think that that is a little disingenuous on the part of ABEM, as the USMLE Secretariat has a reserve of about 60,000 or so questions for Step I, and they estimate that a question costs about $500 for writing, testing, and verification (making sure it's a statistically sound question).

Perhaps its a question of economy of scale since their are more people taking USMLE.

All I know for sure is if my scores are held up because of somebody who can't seem to figure out how to follow the same damn rules everyone else lives by I'm gonna be awfully pissed. $200K. Serves 'em right.

Maybe I'm just grumpy 'cause I just got off of a night shift. Maybe not.

Take care,
Jeff

 

[GeneralVeers]

How did they copy and distribute the questions? I don't recall my test being similar to the previous two tests. Is ABEM thinking your program memorizes test questions for many years and then distributes them?

Maybe I'm forgetful and do not remember the questions being similar.

That is the allegation. I think it's going to be hard for ABEM to prove anything if this goes to court. There are only so many ways to ask a question, and obviously any memorized questions that are written down are going to be significantly different from what was on the actual exam.

The danger is that ALL of the former MLK residents may be penalized, despite the fact that 34/36 of us had nothing to do with this incident. My biggest fear is that they won't let
us sit for our boards. Should ABEM penalize the rest of us, I plan to retain a lawyer, and take this to court if necessary.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Perhaps its a question of economy of scale since their are more people taking USMLE.

All I know for sure is if my scores are held up because of somebody who can't seem to figure out how to follow the same damn rules everyone else lives by I'm gonna be awfully pissed. $200K. Serves 'em right.

Maybe I'm just grumpy 'cause I just got off of a night shift. Maybe not.

Take care,
Jeff

Lots of programs use "In-Service Review Questions" to study from. Usually those residents are smart enough to keep them to themselves. In this case it's a Wayne State attending who had a bee up her ass, who blew the whistle on one of our former residents.

 

[beanbean]

GeneralVeers: I have followed your saga on the forum and am very sorry your MLK nightmare continues. I hope there is quick resolution in favor of you and the other residents who did nothing wrong.

 

[GeneralVeers]

GeneralVeers: I have followed your saga on the forum and am very sorry your MLK nightmare continues. I hope there is quick resolution in favor of you and the other residents who did nothing wrong.

Thank you for your support. I hope ABEM looks at this, and only punishes those involved, and proved to have done anything wrong.

The scary thing is that they are delaying scores to look at how the MLK residents did relative to the rest of the country. If we score consistently higher, it could cause problems. We probably studied more than any other group of residents, because we had a lot to lose this year, which could mean higher scores anyway.

 

[southerndoc]

How does delaying the release of scores play in? Are they going to analyze performance among trainees to see if there is a significant improvement from last year? How can they prove that they received questions as opposed to doing nothing but good ole hard fashioned studying?

 

[Jeff698]

And, more importantly to me anyway, how does delaying the results to the entire country (assuming they will) help with anything other than irritating the rest of the country?

Take care,
Jeff

 

[GeneralVeers]

How does delaying the release of scores play in? Are they going to analyze performance among trainees to see if there is a significant improvement from last year? How can they prove that they received questions as opposed to doing nothing but good ole hard fashioned studying?

I know not the answers to the questions you ask. If you find out, please let me know.

 

[corpsmanUP]

Why the fk would you cheat on the stupid inservice exam? That's like padding your bra in order to impress a blind man with two amputated arms. That's like taking steroids to increase your office softball team batting average. That's like dressing in a tux for your rehearsal dinner. I mean isn't it a practice exam that is only meant to HELP you figure out where you really stand in your core knowledge? If you have to cheat on the inservice exam, then you really are a freaking loser who needs to go into a different specialty.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Why the fk would you cheat on the stupid inservice exam? That's like padding your bra in order to impress a blind man with two amputated arms. That's like taking steroids to increase your office softball team batting average. That's like dressing in a tux for your rehearsal dinner. I mean isn't it a practice exam that is only meant to HELP you figure out where you really stand in your core knowledge? If you have to cheat on the inservice exam, then you really are a freaking loser who needs to go into a different specialty.

At the old MLK program residents were persecuted, punished, and occasionally fired if they did poorly on the exam. Even if everyone did above average, the bottom 1-2 people were always stripped of privileges and harassed. It was a very poor environment, and made the test 100X more stressful.