Ethics of publication

Abstract

Ethical concerns are of a growing importance not only in clinical practice and research, but also in publication process. Every presentation of scientific data should content clear statement disclosing any possible conflicts of interests (e.g., relationship of a researcher to pharmaceutical industry). Redundant publication such as publishing the results of the same trial in several journals under different titles is regarded unethical, as well as “salami slicing”, which is in fact step-by-step publication of partial results of a study (e.g., separately results in males and females, young and elderly etc.) just in order to increase publication output. All of co-authors must provide publisher with their written consent to avoid blind authorship. Only person significantly participating in the concept, design, drafting and reviewing of the study is eligible as an author. Others should be properly acknowledged. Fabrication of data, falsification, plagiarism and other frauds still occur in the scientific literature, although they are beyond any ethical limits.