University of Toronto considers scientific fraud the norm for faculty members?

Allegations of blatant fabrication & falsification "within the norms of the research community"

Is it the University’s position that acts of fabrication and falsification are the norm in faculty research at the University of Toronto?

Yes, that is the question I had to ask Professor Lori Ferris, Associate VP of the Research & Oversight Compliance Office, when she declined to investigate David N. Fisman, Ashleigh R. Tuite & Afia Amoako for their study which fabricated data to arrive at a conclusion opposite reality in order to support vindictive restrictions against the unvaccinated.

“Research misconduct complaints are reserved for genuine breaches of the integrity of the research process where conduct deviates from the norms of the relevant research community” — yep, that’s what Professor Ferris wrote.

The allegations — fabrication and falsification of data and results, two of the most severe violations of research integrity — apparently don’t make the cut at U of T when it comes to research misconduct. Neither does willfully misrepresenting and misinterpreting findings to baselessly target and vilify innocent Canadians. Apparently these are all “within the norm.”

Hmm, that’s not what their ethics guide says.

While I anticipated that the university would provide Dr. Fisman some cover, I had hoped they would take these very serious allegations… seriously. But alas, it’s too much to ask that an office of integrity act with… integrity.

So, I had little choice but to escalate to the next level — notifying the organization that actually funded the study, CIHR, of the alleged fraud. They have been provided full documentation and have been apprised of my dealings with U of T.

But I do like to give second chances, so I sent a follow-up letter to Lori asking that she reconsider. You never know.

If you’d like to read more, here’s U of T’s response to my first letter and my reply: