Findings of Scientific Misconduct

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5298-5299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2510]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Scientific Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) has made a final finding of scientific misconduct in the 
following case:

    Ms. Janell Bodily, B.S., M.S.W., University of Utah: Based on the 
report of an investigation conducted by the University of Utah and 
information obtained by ORI during its oversight review, ORI finds that 
Ms. Bodily, former interviewer, Health Education

[[Page 5299]]

Department, College of Health, University of Utah, engaged in 
scientific misconduct in research supported by a National Institute of 
Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.
    Specifically, Ms. Bodily intentionally falsified patient signatures 
and responses to questions for at least 75 patient interviews for an 
NIMH-funded research project, ``Evaluation of the Utah Prepaid Mental 
Health Plan,'' which involved indigent patients. The study required 
annual interviews of the participating subjects. The falsified 
information was damaging to the research project because researchers 
had to expend substantial time and additional money to re-interview 
patients. Because the data for the previous year could not be 
recollected, the response rate for that year was substantially below 
the response rate for other years of the study and may have reduced the 
overall statistical reliability of the multi-year study.
    None of the questioned data has been included in publications.
    ORI has implemented the following administrative actions for the 
three (3) year period beginning January 25, 1999:
    (1) Ms. Bodily is prohibited from any contracting or subcontracting 
with any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility 
for, or involvement in nonprocurement transactions (e.g., grants and 
cooperative agreements) of the United States Government as defined in 
45 C.F.R. Part 76 (Debarment Regulations); and
    (2) Ms. Bodily is prohibited from serving in any advisory capacity 
to PHS, including but not limited to service on any PHS advisory 
committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as a consultant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Director, Division of Research 
Investigations, Office of Research Integrity, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 
700, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.

Chris B. Pascal,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 99-2510 Filed 2-2-99; 8:45 am]
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