Research Fraud in Allegra Goodman’s Intuition and Carl Djerassi’s Cantor’s Dilemma

Inspiring a 2002 feature film in which Leonardo DiCaprio portrays him, Frank William Abagnale, Jr. is arguably one of the most memorable fraudsters of our time. Abagnale assumed several different identities and forged checks worth millions of dollars. This type of fraud, known as financial fraud, is what many people first think of when the word “fraud” is mentioned. There are, however, other definitions of the word. One area of particular interest to us is the use of fraud in the field of science and research. This is an issue in both Allegra Goodman’s Intuition and in Carl Djerassi’s Cantor’s Dilemma. In both novels, the characters sort of skirt around the issue (at least at first) as this is a very taboo topic no matter the subject area. However, not all scientific fraud is created equal. Goodman seems to use a much more conventional approach by demonstrating outright fraud, while Djerassi, who is more privy to the real world that scientists face, gives us a more subtle view.

Intuition’s Cliff Bannaker and Cantor’s Dilemma’s Jeremiah “Jerry” Stafford were both expected to yield results in the experiments that they conducted. Pressures existed to complete and publish the results before other labs could do the same and, thus, be credited with the discovery. Because both scientists were working at smaller labs with fewer employees and a smaller budget, time was a very important factor in any decision that was made. Long, sleepless days and weeks went by for these men and I can only assume that this, coupled with the pressure they experienced from their superiors, contributed to the way that they dealt with problems that arose in the course of the experiments. Jerry snuck in to the laboratory to correct an er...

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...detrimental effects on cancer patients who are being treated with the supposed new working method. Not to mention the possible psychological pain the false results could give them in which they think there is a new miracle cure for their condition and they gain hope which is dashed when they realize that it does not actually work. Scientific fraud is unethical, as all fraud is, and should obviously not be committed by anyone. Even ex-con Frank Abagnale, Jr. was eventually caught and now runs a financial fraud consulting company and is a consultant for the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Cliff and Stafford both move on with their individual lives after the incident and, I am sure, did not commit fraud again (as is the case with Abignale). Only an idiot or a crazy person would try to commit the same crime for which they have already been caught a second time.