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# Research misconduct: fabrication, falsification, plagiarism

- Topic

Making up data, altering it or copying others' work without credit is research misconduct; an honest error is not.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

## Key points

- Three forms: fabrication (making up), falsification (altering or omitting) and plagiarism (copying without credit).
- Honest error and scientific differences of opinion are not misconduct.
- Helsinki, para. 36: negative and inconclusive results must be published too.
- Helsinki, para. 12: scientific integrity is essential in research with people.
- Hiding conflicts of interest breaches Helsinki (para. 36) and CIOMS (guideline 25).

## What it is

Research misconduct is fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing or reporting research. Fabrication is making up data or results; falsification is manipulating materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data so the record does not reflect what was done; plagiarism is taking another person's ideas, processes, results or words without giving credit. It does not include honest error or differences of opinion. Other questionable practices, such as not publishing negative results, unjustified authorship or hiding conflicts of interest, are also condemned by the Declaration of Helsinki and the CIOMS guidelines.

## Key facts

- Fabrication: making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
- Falsification: manipulating materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data or results.
- Plagiarism: using another person's ideas, processes, results or words without due credit.
- Questionable practices: selective publication, duplicate publication, honorary authorship and withholding negative data.

## In clinical practice

- A fabricated datum in a trial can lead to ineffective or dangerous treatments being used in thousands of patients.
- Articles with proven misconduct are retracted, although they may go on being cited by mistake.
- Prior trial registration (Helsinki, para. 35) makes it possible to detect hidden results or switched outcomes.
- Whoever detects misconduct reports it through their institution's channels; the ethics committee can suspend the study.

## Legal framework in Colombia

- Resolution 8430 of 1993, art. 51, asks for measures so that sponsorship does not create conflicts of interest that affect participant protection or the truthfulness of results.
- Resolution 2378 of 2008, art. 6, paragraph, requires reporting the results of trials with medicines to the health authority, whether favourable or not.

## Memory aid

«FFP: Fabricate, Falsify, Plagiarize»: the three cardinal sins of scientific integrity.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What are the three classic forms of research misconduct?

Fabrication, falsification and plagiarism.

## What is the difference between fabrication and falsification of data?

Fabrication is making up data that do not exist; falsification is altering or omitting real data, or manipulating materials or processes, so the record does not reflect what was done.

## Is an honest error in the analysis research misconduct?

No. Misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion; the error must still be corrected once detected.

## What does the Declaration of Helsinki say about negative results?

That they must be published or made public just like positive and inconclusive ones (para. 36).

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## Connections

## Related 3

- [Conflicts of interest and relations with industry](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/conflicts-of-interest-and-relations-with-industry/)
- [Research ethics committees](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/research-ethics-committees/)
- [The Declaration of Helsinki](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/the-declaration-of-helsinki/)

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Educational content on ethics and health law; not legal advice. Laws and case law change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, read the text in force and ask a lawyer or the medical ethics tribunal.

Sources: [Definition of Research Misconduct (42 CFR Part 93)](https://ori.hhs.gov/definition-research-misconduct) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Research Integrity, 2005); [WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants](https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/) (World Medical Association, 2024); [Resolución 8430 de 1993: normas científicas, técnicas y administrativas para la investigación en salud](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/DE/DIJ/RESOLUCION-8430-DE-1993.PDF) (Ministerio de Salud (now Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social), 1993); [Resolución 2378 de 2008: Buenas Prácticas Clínicas para las instituciones que conducen investigación con medicamentos en seres humanos](https://normograma.supersalud.gov.co/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minproteccion_2378_2008.htm) (Ministerio de la Protección Social (normograma of the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud), 2008).

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