BMJ  2004;329:1301-1302 (4 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7478.1301

Editorial

Dealing with editorial misconduct

New code of conduct for editors is a first step in self regulation

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

"I am that wicked editor," announced the email from Richard Smith, then editor of the BMJ, to members of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) on their listserve two years ago. An aggrieved author had, at Smith's suggestion, complained to WAME's ethics committee after the BMJ went back on its promise to publish a paper. When the anonymised case was posted on the listserve, opinion from WAME's members was unanimous—the editor in question had behaved wrongly and the journal should honour its commitment to publish. The BMJ did.

This case is important. Although of a different order of magnitude than serious cases of editorial misconduct that have been uncovered over the past 10 years,¹ it may be the first example of self regulation by journal editors. An author complained, a body of editors responded, and right—as perceived by those editors—was done.

Editors have traditionally enjoyed power without well . . . [Full text of this article]

BMJ Publishing Group, London WC1H 9JR (fgodlee@bmjgroup.com)

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Investigating allegations of scientific misconduct

Jane Smith and Fiona Godlee
BMJ 2005 331: 245-246. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Dealing with editorial misconduct: What about spin?

Clive D Bates
BMJ 2005 330: 364. [Extract] [Full Text]

Dealing with editorial misconduct: What about relationship with reviewers and authors?

R E Laube
BMJ 2005 330: 364. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Smith, J., Godlee, F. (2005). Investigating allegations of scientific misconduct. BMJ 331: 245-246 [Full text]  
• Bates, C. D (2005). Dealing with editorial misconduct: What about spin?. BMJ 330: 364-364 [Full text]  
• Laube, R E (2005). Dealing with editorial misconduct: What about relationship with reviewers and authors?. BMJ 330: 364-364 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

What about spin?

Clive D Bates
bmj.com, 5 Dec 2004 [Full text]

editorial self governance

R E Laube
bmj.com, 7 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Editorial misconduct or a glitch in medical publications

Farah Asad Mansuri
bmj.com, 8 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>