Secrecy in Medical Research

Abstract

The conduct of medical research is in increasing jeopardy. Scarce funds for research have been strained by the emergence of new problems requiring intensive work. But a more insidious problem is compromising the ability to make progress in medical research. Secrecy about methods and results has become a common and accepted practice. The complex legal arrangements that are often required before reagents are shared impedes scientists from acquiring the materials needed to perform their work. These impediments to research appear to be arising more frequently. The following four situations, which I encountered in the past several months, illustrate many of . . .