[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 48246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18076]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Scientific Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final 
action in the following case:
    Nancy J. Strout, Ph.D., University of Southern Maine: Based on the 
report of an inquiry conducted by the University of Southern Maine 
(USM) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, 
the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) found that Nancy J. Strout, Ph.D., 
former interviewer, USM, engaged in scientific misconduct in research 
supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMSHA) cooperative agreement UD1 SM52362, ``Maine evaluation of 
consumer-operated services.''
    Specifically, PHS found that the Respondent engaged in scientific 
misconduct by fabricating interview data for at least 50 interviews of 
human subjects enrolled in the Maine Evaluation of Consumer-Operated 
Services Project for mental health services, and possibly up to 150 
interviews or more (based on calculations performed by USM), causing 
the project to nullify all 346 interviews due to her involvement at one 
or more stages with the subjects.
    PHS also found that the Respondent is not presently responsible to 
be a steward of Federal funds because she falsified invoices for 
interviews and receipts for interview incentive payments in pursuit of 
a fraudulent scheme to obtain payment for services she did not render.
    Dr. Strout has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in 
which she has voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, 
beginning on July 23, 2004:
    (1) To exclude herself from any contracting or subcontracting with 
any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility or 
involvement in, nonprocurement programs of the United States Government 
as defined in the debarment regulations at 45 CFR Part 76; and
    (2) To exclude herself from serving in any advisory capacity to PHS 
including but not limited to service on any PHS advisory committee, 
board, and/or peer review committee, or as a consultant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 
750, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.

Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 04-18076 Filed 8-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P