BMJ  2005;330:603 (12 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7491.603

Letter

Submission to multiple journals to reduce publication times

Access to information might become truly universal

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

EDITOR—A multiple submissions system proposed by Torgerson et al would be workable if collective mentality were overhauled and changed drastically.¹ It would require (among other things) electronic online submissions across the board; membership of authors to a central association of authors (electronic database and annual membership subscription); an international association of medical journals with the central role of ensuring good communication between journals; and a general association of peer reviewers (preferably connected to the internet).

The membership fee might represent a serious problem for those authors who cannot afford it; but this problem is not entirely insurmountable as the collective pool of membership (including additional subsidies from states and drug companies?) might be able to absorb the costs (similar to insurance companies, etc). Furthermore, many reviewers would not necessarily abandon their voluntary work and would continue to work for the principle itself. Many other reviewers are authors themselves, . . . [Full text of this article]

Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield EN2 8JL adrian32xj6@yahoo.com

Spitalul de Psihiatrie Titan-Dr C Gorgos, Boulevard Nicolae Grigorescu nr 41, sect 3, 030442 Bucharest, Romania

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Relevant Article

Submission to multiple journals: a method of reducing time to publication?

David J Torgerson, Joy Adamson, Sarah Cockayne, Jo Dumville, and Emily Petherick
BMJ 2005 330: 305-307. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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