“60 Minutes” tonight reported that one of Duke University’s star cancer researchers, Dr. Anil Potti, fabricated the data in his highly publicized work developing cancer treatment linked to each individual’s DNA.
Dr. Potti also forged credentials that he was a Rhodes scholar.
The exposé is painful for all Duke associates and alumni, including me, but while it is a black eye for Duke that this fraudulent research was not caught earlier at least the university was forthright in setting the record straight once the deception was discovered. And Duke officials deserve credit for cooperating with “60 Minutes” in the report.
Some other institutions that prefer to duck and run, or circle the wagons, when the media come knocking on the door could learn something from Duke’s proactive and honest handling of unpleasant or unflattering news.
One silver lining in this terrible cloud is that the scandal did not involve Coach Krzyzewski or the basketball team, which have been such great ambassadors for the school.