[Integrity in science: a constant concern].

Recently many academies, science foundations and university associations have placed scientific integrity high on the agenda. 'Scientific integrity' falls within the category internal ethical problems in science as opposed to the category external ethical problems (e.g. justification of the choice of the subject of research, independence of research, responsibility for possible applications) and differs from intrinsic ethical problems such as those generated by stemcell research, nuclear fusion, xenotransplantation a.o. Crucial for science is trust by colleagues and peers as well as the wider public. Trust is weakened by published cases of misconduct: fraud, deceit, and infringement of intellectual property. Scientific misconduct and fraud have been a worldwide phenomenon of all times. The borderline between acceptable and unacceptable conduct is often vague. Causes of scientific misconduct include pressure from powerful institutions, economic and financial motives, and own ambition and vanity of the scientists. Hard data on the occurrence of misconduct is lacking, but a present-day increase of misconduct is not inconceivable. Prevention of misconduct include corrective and antecipatory measures, but most important is the fostering of a scientific conscience and at a sense of proper values and standards.