Norway introduced a revised Research Ethics Act in 2017, which mandates that all research institutions have a Commission on Research Integrity. These commissions have the exclusive authority to determine whether an act constitutes research misconduct. In principle, the commissions are independent and cannot be instructed by the institution. The commissions are not supposed to propose sanctions apart from advising on the fate of published material. In addition the statements should conclude on possible institutional errors, i.e. whether the misconduct could have been prevented by better institutional regulations and infrastructure. 

However, there is still considerable confusion regarding the boundaries where research ethics intersect with work environment regulations and human resources management. Strong economic and career pressures often lead to unethical behavior at both the individual and institutional level. This is evident on a larger scale, with the rise of rogue journals, hacking of journal websites, paper mills that produce false articles, and the availability of authorships for sale. On a personal level, researchers face numerous temptations.

While codes of scientific conduct have been developed within the scientific community for many decades, responsibility has now become highly fragmented and the scientific community has relinquished its role. Therefore, it is crucial for institutions to assert better control, as breaches of scientific norms adversely affect research quality. The focus should be on promoting and reinforcing ethical norms and values through education, investing in mentor-apprentice relationships, and cultivating ethical leadership capable of addressing moral dilemmas.

This talk is given by Ole M Sejersted MD PhD, Professor emeritus.