Academic Integrity Essay

1024 Words5 Pages
“Dear Class of 2011: I have heard from you following the graduation banquet when the theme (and much of the content) of my speech was similar to that of one given by Dr. Atul Gawande. When I was researching for the speech, I came across text which inspired me and resonated with my experiences. The personal medical traumas which I detailed were wholly genuine and did indeed engender the sense of inadequacy I highlighted. I also used a medical case of Dr. Gawande’s to further make my point. I offered a sincere written apology to Dr. Gawande and subsequently spoke with him; he was flattered by my use of his text, took no offence and readily accepted my apology. Throughout my professional career and private life I have I have held myself to the highest ethical standards possible. The talk was intended for a private audience, nevertheless, my failure to attribute the source of my inspiration is a matter of the utmost regret. And, while there is no excuse for the lapse in judgment which occurred on Friday evening I can only offer my sincere and heartfelt apology.” This was Philip Baker’s letter of apology to the University of Alberta’s faculty of medicine and dentistry graduates for his speech at the graduation ceremony which later cost him his career as Dean of Medicine. It sounded similar to a speech given by Dr. Gawande in 2010 to Stanford University's medical graduates that had been posted online! Intellectual Integrity consists of three elements: 1) Honesty with self, 2) Honesty with sources, and 3) Honesty to readers. We are striving to maintain a high level of it. It is not easy. While difficult to achieve, individuals and institutions with higher integrity tend to outlast those with less. The advantages of integrity are almost never evident in the short run, - it is always tempting to sacrifice integrity to make a quick success. Integrity tends to beget
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