Session 13: What can Editors do to Deter and Detect Scientific Misconduct?

Monday, May 2, 2011, 10:30am - 12:00pm 

Despite increasing awareness and efforts to prevent misconduct in scientific publication, it still occurs and journal editors and publishers must remain vigilant to identify suspected misconduct early and avoid publishing manuscripts that later may be called into question.

In the first annual CSE/COPE joint session, experts involved in various aspects of publishing (journal editors, a publisher, a member of the COPE Council, and a blogger from Retraction Watch) will discuss methods to prevent and identify scientific misconduct.

Session 19: Point-Counterpoint: Should Authors or Journals Define Authorship?

Monday, May 2, 2011, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Over the years, discussions about authorship in the publication community have been passionate. Many journals have adopted the authorship policies put in place by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, while others have extended or modified these criteria. Often overlooked in these discussions are the perspectives of the authors. In a Point-Counterpoint format, the speakers in this session focus on authorship policies from the differing perspectives of scientists who author manuscripts and the scientific journals that publish their findings. One speaker will argue that journal authorship policies are unnecessarily restrictive, while the other will argue that authorship criteria should be even more tightly defined by the journals.

Session 23: Publishing Controversial Research

Monday, May 2, 2011, 4:15pm - 5:15pm 

Twice in a little more than a year, Annals of Internal Medicine managed to push the buttons of what seemed like the entire medical community. In November 2000, Annals published the guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommending against screening mammography in women younger than 50 without a familial history of breast cancer. In August of 2010, it electronically published The Affordable Care Act and the Future of Clinical Medicine: The Opportunities and Challenges, written by two physicians and a lawyer employed by the U.S. government. The former was published in the midst of the health care debate and the latter soon after passage of The Affordable Care Act, resulting in accusations of ulterior motives and hidden agendas. This session will discuss how to prepare in advance of publishing controversial topics. In addition, it will give advice on how to manage issues before and after publication.