Research misconduct is defined as behaviour by a researcher that falls short of accepted ethical and scientific standards whether or not this be intentional. For example, the same data may be sent for publication to more than one medical journal, which might have the effect of their being counted twice in any meta-analysis or systematic review; or the data may be ‘salami sliced’ to try to make the maximum number of publications, even though the data may overlap. Fraud in the context of research is defined as the generation of false data with the intent to deceive. It is much less frequent than carelessness, but its incidence is estimated as between 0.1 and 1 per cent. A figure of 1 per cent means that, in the United Kingdom at any one time, maybe 30 studies are being conducted, or their results published, which could contain false information. Examples include forged ethics committee approval, patient signatures and diary cards; fabricated figures and results; invention of non-existent patient subjects; or sharing one electrocardiogram or blood sample amongst many subjects.