Publication ethics

Abstract

Summary The editor of any medical journal has to be aware of the ethical and legal framework within which medical research is conducted. When research and publications relate to children, then particularly high standards are required in the design, conduct, and reporting of research in order to protect the rights of children and their families. Authors have a number of duties and responsibilities that are mirrored by those of editors and publishers. Of particular importance are the principles of transparency and integrity. Authors should be explicit about who carried out the work and who funded the study. They should declare whether the work has been published before and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. The authors must protect the rights of research participants including their anonymity. Editors and publishers have a duty to ensure high editorial standards and efficient and effective peer review systems. They should follow ethical and responsible publication practices and should safeguard the intellectual property of the authors. This review discusses in detail the duties and responsibilities of authors, editors, and publishers in modern medical publishing. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.