Sir

Your News Feature (Nature 418, 120–121; 2002) raises important issues that the physical-science community must face. Argonne National Laboratory's code of ethics calls for a response very similar to that of Bell Labs, namely: “The Laboratory director may appoint an ad-hoc scientific review committee to investigate internal or external charges of scientific misconduct, fraud, falsification of data, misinterpretation of data, or other activities involving scientific or technical matters.” Such a response, giving ample opportunity for all sides to be heard by a panel of disinterested experts, is a natural and effective means of dealing with cases of possible misconduct.