Situation: A resident submitted a plagiarized document for publication on a residency-affiliated website as part of a rotation requirement 

Remediation Committee Assessment:

Submitting a plagiarized document demonstrates deficiencies in practice-based performance improvement (“participates in performance improvement to optimize ED function, self-learning, and patient care”) and professionalism (“demonstrates accountability to patients, society, profession and self”). We would recommend that the residents first write a reflective piece demonstrating their understanding of the situation as well as reflection upon potential consequences. Assuming that this plagiarism was an attempt to bypass required work, then the assignment of additional work is appropriate. In addition to redoing the initial assignment, consider how additional work on behalf of this resident could benefit the greater residency program: ie, delivery of lectures to rotating medical students, assisting in the sim lab, creation of resources for the residency website.