Otago University reassurances over cheating claim

Alleged cheating by medical students during their third-year exams runs counter to ideas of ''honesty and professional behaviour'', but if proved true will not compromise the quality of Otago Medical School graduates, the University of Otago says.

The university confirmed yesterday it was investigating reports of third-year medical students cheating in a practical exam, after parts of an email from medical school dean Prof Barry Taylor to students were published online by student magazine Critic Te Arohi.

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Prof Taylor was reported saying in the letter he was withholding the students' results until the investigation was complete.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, he said there had been ''communication between some students regarding the content of examination stations'', but he wanted to assure the public that candidates could not quickly learn the material to pass.

''Foreknowledge gives some advantage, but we think only a small advantage. These students still have three years to go in their training and in each year they are very carefully assessed in great depth.''

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination involves demonstrating a practical skill - such as taking a patient's history or examining someone presenting with headache symptoms.

The main issue was one of breaching professional boundaries, and it was an issue of ''honesty and professional behaviour that we would not expect to see from people training to be doctors'', Prof Taylor said.

Students alleged to have participated in the behaviour would be interviewed, but the consequences for them had yet to be determined.

''Staff and student leaders are extremely disappointed if the alleged behaviour has occurred. However, the public should be reassured that the standard of Otago Medical School graduates has not been compromised,'' he said.

Students quoted by Critic feared everyone would have to resit the exam and said there was a history of students passing on information to later groups.

Students had been asked to help the university with its investigation, but one student said they were ''definitely not gonna tell on someone''.

The Otago University Medical Students' Association released a statement last night saying it was ''extremely disappointed'' by the event.

While collaboration and communication between colleagues were valued traits, this did not extend to an examination environment, it said.

The University of Otago declined to say how many students were affected.