School for scandal

Exploitation of young researchers may be nothing new but the war that's broken out at Dalhousie takes it to a whole new level

By Owen Dyer

Stress and bullying are common problems for resident registrars (post-graduate research fellows), according to a recent survey of British researchers in the Postgraduate Medical Journal. No fewer than 38% said they would not recommend their post to a colleague. These same doctors were also more likely to report poor relationships with their supervisors and to want to change them than those who were happy to recommend their posts. In Britain and Canada, those studying to become specialists are required to undertake research as part of their training.

They were also more likely to report being bullied at work, including being subjected to belittlement, public humiliation, unjustified criticism, intimidating use of disciplinary procedures, threats, exclusion, insults and name-calling. The survey authors comment that: "It is time to move away from a professional culture that accepts and expects that stress and bullying are inevitable. "

The survey questioned 259 British doctors. It would be comforting to think that the situation in Canada is different but that may be an overoptimistic assessment. If recent events at Dalhousie University between researchers and their superiors are any indication, the problem might be more present here than we are aware.

DALHOUSIE DUST UP
Dr Gabrielle Horne is a cardiologist and a member of Dalhousie University's medical faculty. The promising young researcher was given a clinical scholarship which allowed her to devote 75% of her time to research. Most of her work was carried out at the Heart Function Clinic of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre.

Dr Horne's research on heart disease was suspended early in 2003 after Halifax's Capital District Health Authority Centre received an anonymous complaint. Following the standard procedure, her case came before the District Medical Advisory Committee whose job was to establish whether patient care had been compromised. Although the committee cleared her, the case continued through an internal review process to the next stage, the Privileges Review Committee, where it was bogged down for six months.

Such complaints should be resolved within a few weeks, say the bylaws but six months later, Dr Horne was still barred from working. The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) suggested mediation, which led in June 2003 to the signing, by Dr Horne and the chief executive of Capital Health, Donald Ford, of a settlement which resolved all "research protocol issues. " But the Health Authority has repudiated the settlement, denying that Mr Ford had authority to sign it. Dr Horne is still unable to pursue her work and last month her lawyers filed a complaint with the province's Supreme Court.

CAUT launched an independent inquiry into Dr Horne's case, but the inquiry team found its remit expanding rapidly as other Dalhousie medical researchers came forward to complain about their own treatment. According to James Turk, executive director of CAUT, three other members of the faculty have contacted his organisation about interference in their work.

The most serious case, he says, is that of Dr Michael Goodyear, an oncologist who was himself the chairman of the Research Ethics Board (REB). An initial dispute, which appears to have involved chemotherapy dosing, rapidly escalated when the head of the Department of Medicine, Dr Elizabeth Anne Cowden, barred him from clinical practice and even from attending academic meetings.

In July 2003, Dr Goodyear was removed from his position as Chair of REB, despite a letter of protest signed by all of its current members and several previous Chairs, according to Mr Turk.

Last fall, Dr Goodyear was told that since he could no longer treat patients, his clinical pay would be stopped. In December, he was locked out of his office.

A new CAUT inquiry, with a mandate to look into all of these cases, has been set up but the Capital District Health Authority is refusing to cooperate. Dr Andrew Padmos, vice-president of Research & Academic Affairs, sent a circular to members of staff telling them they are not obliged to answer questions from the inquiry and reminding them of their obligations to respect confidentiality. Dr Padmos told faculty members that he could not yet explain to them the nature of the allegations against the researchers and refused comment to the National Review of Medicine.

"These internal proceedings are a Capital Health, not a university matter, " says Sam Scully, vice president academic and provost of Dalhousie.

Dr Horne is currently out of the country and Dr Goodyear could not be reached for comment. Neither Dalhousie nor the Health Authority are currently prepared to explain what these researchers are accused of. It remains to be seen if their own secret disciplinary processes will reach a conclusion, or if CAUT's inquiry will get to the truth without their cooperation.

For more info on the inquiry please visit: www.caut.ca/english/issues/acadfreedom/dalhousiecapitalhealth.asp