CNN is airing an exclusive about doctors cheating on exams.

[Cinderella]

Link to video and story

[SuzySunshine]

I read that yesterday, its specifically on radiologists and students memorizing and then transcribing the questions to give to students/residents behind them.

I was going to ask DH about it last night and forgot to see if there was every somthing similar in NSG.

[Cinderella]

I was surprised it was a whistle blower from a military hospital in San Antonio, but that it was not the only place they tracked it down to. In the piece they mentioned other programs also doing this and that some doctors were commenting on their site that they don't think it's cheating.

[SoonerTexan]

I saw it on the TV but didn't hear the details. Was it legit or overblown as CNN likes to do?

[Cinderella]

Well the American Radiology Board agreed it was cheating but some doctors don't think it is. They say all these things like the question banks are designed for study. For example there are over 2000 questions they could pull from for the USMLE but who is going to take the time to memorize all of that?

In this case the military was giving an order for the guy to use the recall system that they had set up which is a bank of old tests going back to the 90's. CNN had copies of all the old test from these guys. The tests weren't the actual test but rather questions residents had memorized from taking the exam and wrote down afterwards to pass along. The ARB exam had at least over half of their exam questions on their current exam from these old test questions.

[PrincessFiona]

I think it was cheating.

Specifically, the radiologists were taking the exam, memorizing certain questions and their answers verbatim, writing them down as they left the test and then were creating a bank of these questions answers.

New test-takers can go to these test question banks and study the questions/answers ... and there is a very high likelihood that many of the exact questions will be on an exam because half of exam questions come from old tests.

Docs taking this exam have to sign an agreement not to share questions and answers in order to take the exam.

It's a no-go in my book.

Kris

[SuzySunshine]

So I asked DH and he says that it also explicitly stated in his specialty to not do this. He says that he has heard some programs do but that his did not so I'm guessing this happens at some leveling all specialties.

[SoonerTexan]

Holy cow...who can remember exact detailed questions while taking a test like that? Having the details, I agree it is cheating, but I am impressed at those memory skills.

[GrayMatterWife]

Instead of demonizing the docs for being smart enough to remember the old questions and sensible enough to prepare effectively (or, to address the questions that would be actually asked), maybe they should just stop recycling the same questions.

We do the same thing for bar exam questions. And they often recycle those questions. But I don't think there is a "gee we won't share" attestation we sign.

[MissCrabette]

It's technically cheating if you share the questions. I think the USMLE calls it "irregular behavior."

But then everyone uses question banks. Everyone. How do we think those questions got there?

[diggitydot]

Count me as not considering this "cheating", either. Q-bank = studying previous test questions.

[SoonerTexan]

Haha so maybe my original thought was right!

[peggyfromwastate]

ITA with rapunzel. My dh heard about this jerk thru the grapevine and we are not at the same hospital!!

And ENTs have this bank too. They use it at all the programs. The residents take the questions or subjects and will write a comprehensive explanation of the question-- it's studying. They can't possibly have all the questions. And just as with the SATs, the MCATs, etc, some questions are repeated, but most are not, and every year new questions are introduced.

Dh studies the books-- as a group they review "test questions"-- but these aren't copies of test questions and answers. That's just not how it is. It's more like a "discussion" and review of topics.

I don't know. I just don't see it as cheating.

[Bittersweet]

It's technically cheating if you share the questions. I think the USMLE calls it "irregular behavior."

Yep, and USMLE specifically lists "reconstruction of questions from memory" as a type of behavior that can result in some pretty nasty consequences. Just by way of comparison, in both states where I took the bar the rules also explicitly prohibited examiners from reproducing or discussing examination content. And, at least for the bar, the sample multiple choice questions used to study are those that have been officially released by the testing authority.

[MissCrabette]

I honestly don't know where the line is drawn. I remember there was a case of a company offering USMLE Step 1 (possibly Step 2, as well) courses that got caught paying people to report back test information. It caused a big mess for all the students that had ever taken that course. I can't even imagine. Maybe this company is small potatoes compared to Kaplan. Maybe Kaplan has better lawyers.

http://www.usmle.org/announcements/o...it-update.aspx

When test-takers sign up for the exam, they agree to "maintain the confidentiality of the materials" and not to provide information about content "that may give an unfair advantage to individuals who may be taking the examination." Dr. Kimball points out test-takers who do not fulfill their pledges of confidentiality fail to meet the medical profession's standards in vitally important ways. "We depend on our physicians for the highest standards of ethics as well as medical competence," he said.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press...Indictment.pdf
Check out 1.k.8. on page 7.

All examination materials remain the property of
the USMLE parent organizations, and you will maintain
the confidentiality of the materials ... including
multiple choice items . . . You will not reproduce or
attempt to reproduce examination materials through
memorization or any other means. Also, you will not
provide information relating to examination content
that may give or attempt to give unfair advantage to
individuals who may be taking the examination. This
includes posting regarding examination items and/or
answers on the Internet.