Maintaining high ethical standards in education, patient care, and research is vital to upholding WMed's mission, vision, and values. Regarding research, ethical behavior and integrity ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional policies. Most regulations are put in place to protect people, animals, institutional integrity, and cover a broad range of activity from general guidelines to specific regulations like financial conflict of interest. Students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff are all obligated to understand their role in upholding these research standards that support our commitment to innovative research at WMed.
Research Compliance Violation Reporting
WMed relies on you to speak up if you believe that you have observed unethical, illegal or suspicious behavior. When you speak up, you provide the information necessary to investigate and remedy a potentially damaging situation. Every report will be acted on in a confidential manner, with notification to other appropriate individuals made on a need-to-know basis. If anonymity is desired, it will be protected to the extent possible.
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Research participants are encouraged to share their concerns or complaints regarding their involvement in a research study with the investigator or study staff. However, research participants may also report their concerns to the WMed IRB at 269.337.4345, by completing the Compliance Violation Report or by visiting the the Compliance and Concern Hotline webpage or by phone at 1.833.222.1416. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Research participants, faculty, employees, students or anyone with concerns that research is not being conducted in accordance with WMed policies, with external sponsor requirements, or with federal and state regulations. Research concerns can be reported confidentially and or anonymously and without fear of retaliation against individuals who report them in good faith.
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If you believe that you have observed unethical, illegal or suspicious behavior and suspect that a research compliance issue has occurred. If an individual perceives that they are being retaliated against after making a call or submitting a concern, the individual is referred to the appropriate office to file an administrative grievance procedure.
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Yes, you may choose to make your report anonymously by visiting the Compliance and Concern Hotline or by phone at 1.833.222.1416. We ask that if you choose to report anonymously you provide as much detailed information as possible for the review.
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The Compliance and Concern Hotline is not intended for reporting criminal or medical emergencies (for emergency assistance, please call 911). All reported incidents are handling promptly and thoroughly.