Would you consider this inappropriate or unethical?

[Ciardeme]

Hello all, your recommendations are desparately needed. I am in the position of asking my bosses(highly respected and influential researchers) to help me get an interview with my state med school. Here is the catch, (without disclosing too much information) our research facility is in ALOT of trouble. Seems as if a former employee did some not-so-ethical data submission on part of one of our investigators. Being that I can fix most of 3 years worth of "bad data" and down right forgery, do you think it is extremely inappropriate or unethical of me to request their assistance getting in interview if i agree to fix the situation? It is important to reinforce the fact that this type of situation could spur an FDA audit! That would be VERY, VERY bad! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

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[saxonmacleod]

1) How are you planning on "fixing" bad data?
2) Have you not earned your employer's respect already? or do you truly need to buy him off to get a recommendation?
3) If you do end up phrasing it like that, make sure you can call it a joke if it blows up in your face...I don't know the details, but it certainly sounds in bad taste, at the very least.
4) If you are alleging audit-worthy abuses, I'd remove your school's name from your profile before posting something like this...

 

[Ciardeme]

saxonmacleod: when i said "fix", i didn't mean "fix" with the connotation you seem to be insinuating. I should have phrased it as "correct" the data...sorry for the confusion. As for them respecting me, i am confident that has already been established. I have recommendations from each of them.
I am sure you are familiar with the saying "It's not what you know, its who you know". I agree that it is unfortunate that this seems to be the case in certain circumstances. But sometimes life sucks. If you have worked for this as hard as i have, you know you have to stack the cards in your favor.
I would never infer that i wouldn't help if they didn't help me. But being that we can both help each other, i didn't think it would hurt to suggest it. But thanks for your input.

 

[omores]

Originally posted by Ciardeme:
•Being that I can fix most of 3 years worth of "bad data" and down right forgery, do you think it is extremely inappropriate or unethical of me to request their assistance getting in interview if i agree to fix the situation?

I would never infer that i wouldn't help if they didn't help me. But being that we can both help each other, i didn't think it would hurt to suggest it. •••

One: there is nothing unethical or inappropriate about asking their assistance

Two: it would be generous of you to offer to help fix the situation.

However, it would be very unwise for you to imply that Item One is contingent upon Item Two. Do them both, but make it very clear that they are separate issues -- bring them up at different times.

Your bosses may very well forge their own link between One and Two: "Ciardeme was so good about helping us fix that nasty situation; let's write an extra-wonderful letter of recommendation." If this happens, then great. But they have to come up with that themselves, not infer it from you.

Good luck!

PS: Sorry about the implicit grammar correction; once a copy editor, always a copy editor.

 

[EpiII]

I agree with omores.

If you can correct an unethical submission of data, you have an obligation to do so. If your bosses decide to do something more than just write a letter of recommendation on your behalf, that is another issue. The two should not be linked, that is unethical.

There is a thread on SDN that you might want to check out to find out people's opinions on the second topic. <a href="http://www.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=006887" target="_blank">Anyone had/have a Dr call a med school on your behalf?.. </a>

 

[C U in MD school]

i dont think u can link the two. u should work ur ass off and get the data fixed and wait for ur pi to help you out. if you come out shooting your guns in the air, i think that he would laugh at u. so, i think u should work hard. do as much as u can. save the research. and wait to see what happens.

 

[lady in red]

asking him or implying directly or indirectly is not too wise. If you are hard worker, as you claim, he probably already knows it, and reviving the data would probably raise you even higher in his eyes. Begging for an interview would make you seem desperate and dishonest (i mean in the sense that it would look like you are doing it just because you have a motive--to get in, not because you care about research), which I know you are not, but...people always expect the worst, especially at this level. So be careful; PIs know more about the application game than they care to express openly. If I were you, I won't ask him directly.

 

[Big Red Machine]

I don't see a problem in asking for help. Obviously, your ultimate goal is to get into medical school. Do you what you think is right. If these people are influential, they can help you. Good luck.

 

[UCLA2000]

1. It is unethical of you to NOT correct data that has been doctored.

2. It would be wise of you to use your connections in order to get into med school.

3. If correcting the data is contingent upon someone pulling strings to get you an interview then that is called blackmail. Blackmail is unethical, and in many cases even illegal.

4. If the researcher gets ticked off at your blackmail attempt, then they could ruin your chances of getting into ANY medical school by making a few phone calls and telling their own version of the events that have transpired.