Whistleblowing legislation and reporting on research misconduct: A case for mutual learning

Area of Science:

• Legal Studies
• Science Policy
• Research Ethics

Background:

• Regulations for reporting research misconduct evolved significantly since the 1980s.
• State legislation for whistleblower protection and alert reception also developed concurrently.
• These legislative areas, while sharing reporting aims, have largely developed in isolation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze convergences and divergences between whistleblowing legislation and research misconduct reporting.
• To identify potential contributions of each legal framework to the other.
• To propose avenues for improving procedures and protections for whistleblowers in research misconduct contexts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of European Union law.
• Examination of French transposition of EU law.
• Comparative legal analysis of whistleblowing and research misconduct reporting frameworks.

Main Results:

• Identified specific convergences and divergences between the two legal domains.
• Highlighted how whistleblowing law can inform research misconduct procedures and vice versa.
• Demonstrated the need for better integration of these legal frameworks.

Conclusions:

• Existing legal frameworks for research misconduct reporting and whistleblower protection require better linkage.
• Integrating insights from both areas can enhance procedural efficacy and protection levels.
• Further development should focus on harmonizing these related but isolated legislative efforts.