The termination was bad enough but as soon as that data (whatever it is) disappeared things changed. I think its hard to imagine Dr. Mikovits actually taking study data from the WPI (it is for me) but the WPI clearly thinks that's what's happened. They have surely tried to get it back using other means and its clearly not coming back that way....so what do you do? What is there left to do?
If its really important data I would probably do what they're doing... I don't know if I would have done it as fast or if I would tried harder to get it back another way
The way Im looking at it is it makes sense to be done fast (and actually they did wait a while before reporting it to the police, they gave her time and opportunity to return it etc).. as obviously they truely believe she has it and she's denied she has got it, so nothing more really they could do except turn to legal system. Pointless to insist one to one with her that she has it and to return it, when she says she dont have it and also thinks the data is hers anyway.
I can understand that that info must be very important to her as she still believes in XMRV so maybe probably sees more research in this as the only way to like get her good reputation back again.. to prove the things she previously said and that she is right.
I can understand her copping the blame as it is a logical thing to think its probably her after they've sacked her.
Most obvious conclusions thou arent always the right ones. (maybe it isnt even about that research, thou i do doubt that is the case, but someone who dont like her or someone who wants to get rid of a ME researcher and has set her up to take a massive fall.. who knows.. it could be anything)
As long as Dr. Mikovits is out of work she can't use the data even if she does have it. If this is big enough to bring a lawsuit over - it sounds like its pretty important - then its a substantial amount of information on XMRV and CFS. It sounds like not having it there may be holding up their current research efforts.
Its been said to be YEARS work.
What gets me is why someone would go and take something when they know they will be blamed for taking it and surely be gone after?
No one in their right mind would steal something knowing they will be blamed for it (eg she was fired recently so if she took it she would of surely known she'd be seen as the thief).
It only makes sense to me for her to have taken it, if she took it believing she truely had an actual legal right to that info and hence then to take it (and then later fight that its hers, maybe she previously been given some poor legal advice of having right to it.. one could speculate about so many different things).
So her allegally thinking that info is hers.. well her taking it makes sense in that light.. so hence then it would of all came down to an misunderstanding thing of who owns what).
Otherwise it makes no sense at all IF she was the one to take it.
.....
I think people should support both the WPI AND Mitovits till much more is known. This must be so hard on both parties and there is a chance neither is involved.
(Did this get stolen just after the Norweign big discovery was published?). I think the timing of this drama is interesting as I made prediction at this site wondering what big thing which could happen to try to take the spotlight from the Norweign study... as every time there is a big ME/CFS discovery something usually happens just after which takes the spotlight from away from whatever it is.
I made a joke not long ago about what Wessely school believers could do to take the lime light away from the Norweign study... and come up with all kinds of far out things which could get media attention away from the newest big discovery. The Norweign study did not end up drawing the amount of attention it should of done world wide but maybe someone out there at the time thought it would draw more attention so wanted to create a big drama in the field of ME/CFS.
Anyway..Im wondering if the info got stolen from the WPI just after the Norweign study info came out.
crap.. i so so wish we all knew what has happened.. so many possibilities and so many far out things have happened in the field of ME/CFS before.