- Case
Authors used pseudonyms on a published article
…area of research where double-blind peer review is not the norm and the topic is controversial with strong opinions on both sides). The corresponding author has also informed the publisher that the address provided on the paper (which appears to be a private address where the authors may or may not be located) was used because the authors had been told by their employer that as this piece of research… - Case
Duplicate submission and request for withdrawal
This case of duplication submission is complicated by the data issues, with the authors saying there are inconsistencies in their data and subsequent conclusions. Could the authors have used the data issues as an excuse to withdraw the paper from journal A so that they could publish in journal B for speed of publication or higher impact factor, for example? The Forum was told that journal… - Case
Data integrity issues
…editor could contact the authors and the institutions informing them that the journal is considering retraction and give them a deadline to respond. If the authors and the institutions are not responding, and the journal cannot verify what has been published, that could be grounds for retraction. Is there a higher authority, such as an ethics committee, office or research integrity, or vice… - Seminars and webinars
Post-publication corrections
…href="https://publicationethics.org/registration-cope-seminar-2021">REGISTER --> Back to top Post-publication concerns: current problems The panellists start by identifying the problems with the current systems of handling post-publication concerns. Slowness and a reluctance to act by journals are identified as key issues, especially in the light of increased action by paper mills and the rise of generative AI, both of which… - Case
Potential image integrity flags on 15-year-old published papers
On the specific case being considered it was not possible to verify the allegations due to low resolution of the figures and no available raw data. The case could not be formally resolved as such and is now considered closed. It was decided not to publish an expression of concern. … COPE Forum
…the COPE website. The advice from the Forum participants (or from Council) is provided back to the member who brought the case, but the final decision on handling the case lies with the member editor and/or publisher. COPE accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused or occasioned as a result of advice given by them or by any COPE member. Advice given by COPE and its members is not…COPE Governance
…registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee in the UK and was set up by a Memorandum of Association on 3 October 2007. COPE is also a registered charity (1123023). COPE’s principal Objects are "to educate and advance knowledge in methods of safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record for the benefit of the public". COPE’s income is derived mainly from membership subscription…FORUM DISCUSSION TOPIC: comments please
…a process to resolve differences between regulators and editors, that doesn’t burden the researcher to start with? Is this a problem beyond the UK and part of what Greg Koski has defined as the creeping “hyper-regulation” of research? BACKGROUNDThe remit of Research Ethics Committees (RECs) is the consideration of research, and the Health Research Authority…- Case
HIV homeopathy
The authors carried out a study. A homeopathic treatment was given to people with HIV/AIDs. The outcome was quality of life, as measured by a questionnaire after 1 month and 18 months of treatment. Participants were selected for inclusion if they had a HIV seropositive status at the time of study and were not taking any other kind of HIV/AIDs treatment. The participants were stratified… - Case
Inadequate reporting of a trial, despite earlier rejection from a different journal
…author to the journal (ie, the protocol) should not be sent to another journal, as this is privileged/confidential information. It is up to the second journal to contact the author and ask for this material. If the author does not respond, then the journal that had actually published his work (journal 2) should contact the author’s institution.… - Case
Unethical private practice
…report this individual, but were unable to find contact information as their website is not in English. We also contacted journal A and journal B to notify them of our concerns, in the event that they also wished to investigate this author; neither journal has responded. Two months later, we re-sent the notification to university X general email address and received an out of office… - Case
Ethics committee approval
…editorial board and decide whether or not it needs approval. However, as an editor, what should I do in the following situation? Any research, be it a retrospective analysis of routine patient data, an in vitro study or a study on bacteria requires institutional ethics committee approval in country A. In country B, ethics committee approval is not required for such studies (this information is… - Case
Should a journal disclose peer reviewer names?
…advice as things can be very different depending on the jurisdiction in which the journal is published and location of the complainant. Starting actions across national borders is complex and costly. Council would suggest that there is no obligation to disclose the names of the peer reviewer to the lawyer. If the journal's policy is that the information is confidential, at a minimum, we… - Forum discussion topics
COPE Forum 8 July 2014: ethical review
…burden the researcher to start with? 4. Is this a problem beyond the UK and part of what Greg Koski has defined as the creeping “hyperregulation” of research? Download the PDF for the full discussion… - Case
Ethics approval and consent
The journal editors-in-chief with expertise and/or relation to the manuscripts convened to further discuss the case, as there were a variety of opinions. The editors-in-chief and the editorial office have requested further details regarding ethics approval from the authors. No response has been received from the authors at this time, and therefore this has been escalated to related… - Case
Retraction request after university investigation found no evidence of fraud
Dr X claimed to have found fabrication and falsification of data in an article submitted for publication by Dr Y. Dr Y’s university investigated and found no evidence of fraud but a genuine error in the figure. Dr X provided more information and a further investigation was initiated. It again dismissed the complaint as unfounded. The paper was then published. Dr X is now asking the journal for… - Event
Publication Integrity Week 2023
…summary The panel discussed the formal and informal ways in which critiques are posted and how critiques should be raised and handled. Thursday 5 October Caste and publishing: an ethics gap? video Discussion on inclusivity and equity focusing on caste as a global form of… - Case
Request for removal from author list for reasons of religious belief
…they have made this request because they no longer want to be associated with the research for reasons of religious belief. They further state that, because they now consider a lot of applications of knowledge in their field to be sinful, they do not want their name to be associated with activities that they no longer agree with, and they do not want to be recognised as someone who is involved in… - Case
Dispute among authors
Our journal has received a paper describing a study that originated as more than one trial in more than one country, with collaboration by researchers in another country. The DSMB considered and agreed a proposal to combine the trials. It took many months to finally submit the manuscript to the journal after the end of trial. The delay in submission was caused… - Case
Stolen article
…journal plans to contact the author regarding the latest submission, and ask for an explanation. The journal also plans to contact the authors of the conference proceedings to see if they have any insight as to how a different author group submitted the same work to the journal. After evaluating the responses, the journal may then contact the institutions of the authors of article A and possibly also…