[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41357-41358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16357]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Scientific Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) and the Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in 
the following case:
    J. Keith Hampton, St. Luke's Hospital: Based on the report of an 
investigation conducted by St. Luke's Hospital (SLH) in Chesterfield, 
MO, and additional analysis conducted by the Office of Research 
Integrity (ORI) during its oversight review, the U.S. Public Health 
Service (PHS) found that J. Keith Hampton, MSN, APRN, former Clinical 
Research Associate, SLH, engaged in scientific misconduct in research 
supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), awards U10 CA69651, U10 CA12027, and U10 CA33601.
    PHS found that Mr. Hampton engaged in scientific misconduct by 
falsifying and fabricating data that were reported to the National 
Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Project (NSABP) and Cancer and 
Leukemia Group B (CALGB) cooperative research groups.
    Specifically, PHS found that:
    1. For protocol CALGB 90206, Respondent:
    (a) Falsified a patient's CT scan reports and registration forms 
and reported the falsified CT scan reports and registration worksheet 
to CALGB,
    (b) Falsified a patient's performance status records (giving 80% 
performance status) and registration forms and reported the falsified 
performance status report and registration form to CALGB.
    2. For protocol NSABP B-35, Respondent:
    (a) Falsified eligibility data related to hematology and chemistry 
assays and to the performance of a pelvic exam on one patient's 
registration form and reported the falsified registration forms to the 
National Cancer Institute Cancer Trial Support Unit (CTSU),
    (b) Falsified pelvic exam eligibility on a second patient's 
registration form and reported the falsified registration form to the 
CTSU,
    (c) Falsified hematology and chemistry assay eligibility on a third 
patient's registration form and reported the falsified registration 
form to the CTSU.
    3. For protocol NSABP B-36, Respondent falsified a patient's 
multigated acquisition test (MUGA--a test of heart function) records, 
cardiac function, and registration forms, certified the patient's 
eligibility, and reported the falsified MUGA test, cardiac function, 
and registration forms to the CTSU.
    4. For protocol NSABP B-38, Respondent falsified hematology, 
chemistry, and MUGA eligibility for a patient on the registration form 
and reported the falsified registration form to the CTSU.
    5. For protocol NSABP C-08, Respondent:
    (a) Falsified urine protein/creatinine ratio eligibility for one 
patient on the registration form and reported the falsified 
registration form to the CTSU,
    (b) Falsified urine protein/creatinine ratio eligibility for a 
second patient on the registration form and reported the falsified 
registration form to the CTSU,
    (c) Falsified claims of the urine protein/creatinine ratio and 
PT(INR) eligibility for a third patient on the registration form and 
reported the falsified registration form to the CTSU.
    6. For protocol NSABP R-04, Respondent falsified a patient's 
colonoscopy report and eligibility at registration and reported the 
falsified colonoscopy report and registration form to the CTSU.
    Mr. Hampton has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement 
(Agreement) in which he has voluntarily agreed for a period of three 
(3) years, beginning on June 17, 2008:
    (1) To exclude himself 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 
referred to as ``covered transactions'' pursuant to HHS' Implementation 
(2 CFR part 376 et seq.) of OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (2 CFR part 180); and
    (2) To exclude himself 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 or 
contractor to PHS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity,

[[Page 41358]]

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8800.

Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. E8-16357 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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