Medicine and law
-
I summarize my experience with scientific misconduct and breach of publication ethics during my 10 year term as Editor-in-Chief and my first 3 years as Scientific Integrity Advisor for Neurology, the official publication of the American Academy of Neurology. I describe in some detail the highly publicized, lengthy saga involving the accusation from a former colleague that James Abbs falsified data in an article published in Neurology. ⋯ Most of the problems I encountered were less complex and involved claims of plagiarism (regarded as "scientific misconduct") and self plagiarism (regarded as a "breach of publication ethics"). I conclude by providing helpful sources for editors in dealing with these infractions.
-
Scientific fraud and misconduct appear to be on the rise throughout the scientific community. Whatever the reasons for fraud and whatever the number of cases, it is important that the academic research community consider this problem in a cool and rational manner, ensuring that allegations are dealt with through fair and impartial procedures. Increasingly, governments have either sought to regulate fraud and misconduct through legislation, or they have left it to universities and research institutions to deal with at the local level. ⋯ In this paper, we propose a standard definition of scientific fraud and misconduct and procedures for investigation based on natural justice and fairness. The issue of fraud and misconduct should not be left to government regulation by default. The standardized definition and procedures presented here should lead to more appropriate institutional responses in dealing with allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct.