Whistle blowing in clinical research: some perspectives from good clinical practice and the role of research ethics committees

Abstract

‘Whistle blowing’ means to blow a whistle calling attention to practices which an individual considers as immoral or illegal and harmful to the public. Some people think whistle blowing is a good or right act; others consider it wrong. There are numerous reports concerning blowing the whistle in scientific research. I place whistle blowing in the context of institutions, focusing on good clinical practice and Research Ethics Committees. Many research activities take place resulting in monetary and personal gain which may influence research conduct. I explore some issues in the development and organization of Research Ethics Committees, discuss the nature of whistle blowing and whistle blowers, and examine some whistle blowing incidents in scientific research. I conclude that although the function of Research Ethics Committees does not necessarily include mechanisms for whistle blowing, that this idea has merit and should be considered.