Literature as a Lens: Investigating Institutional Failures in Research Integrity through Fiction and Fact

The Boldt scandal, one of the largest documented cases of research misconduct globally, caused significant institutional failures in research oversight. These systemic issues at Justus Liebig University in Gießen, Germany played a critical role in enabling widespread data falsification and ethical violations. Benno von Bormann, a former collaborator of Joachim Boldt involved in the misconduct, subsequently authored the semi-fictional novel Das Hospital, which depicts hierarchical power dynamics and ethical dilemmas within a hospital setting. This book review examines how von Bormann's narrative parallels the documented institutional weaknesses that facilitated the Boldt scandal. By comparing insights from the University of Gießen's investigation report, as summarized in publicly available sources, and the themes in Das Hospital, a unique interdisciplinary analysis of institutional responsibility is offered. The twin-pronged approach sheds light on the systemic conditions that may encourage unethical research behaviours, potentially leading to corresponding patterns of research withdrawals in areas and disciplines where such practices are notably prevalent. This study concludes by revisiting approaches to enhance transparency, accountability, and cultural changes in research management. This underscores the importance of combining literary analysis with factual examination of institutions to tackle ongoing issues in upholding research integrity.