A group of authors submitted a paper to Journal A, but the editor noticed that it was very similar to a paper already published in Journal B. Neither paper made any mention of the other in the text, references, or the covering letter. The editor of Journal A sent a copy of the submission to the editor of Journal B who compared the two papers and decided there was substantial overlap. More worryingly, there seemed to be different numbers of eligible patients and different numbers randomised in the two papers, although they are supposed to be from the same study. The editor of Journal B recommended the editor of Journal A to write to the authors asking for an explanation of the differences in patient numbers and their failure to reference the previously published paper. What more should the editors of the two journals do?
_ The editor of Journal A should write to the authors asking for an explanation. _ A copy of this letter should also be sent to the editor of Journal B. _ If a satisfactory reply is not forthcoming then the editor of Journal A should refer the matter to the dean of the authors’ institution, suggesting that an enquiry be started.
The editor of Journal A wrote to the authors who have not replied. The authors produced a response which satisfied the editor of Journal A that there had been no unethical behaviour. He decided, therefore, not to contact the authors’ employers. The editor of Journal B agreed.