JOURNAL TAKES SWIFT ACTION AGAINST AUTHORS IN CLEAR CASE OF DUPLICATE PUBLICATION
In a decisive move, a scientific journal uncovers a clear case of duplicate publication when a referee discovers striking similarities between a submitted article and a piece published eight years earlier in a surgical journal. The authors, presenting identical data with altered graphical representation and introducing three new contributors, argue that minor additions in the discussion justify the second publication.
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) advises the editor to reject the paper and admonish the authors for unacceptable behavior. Furthermore, the editor is encouraged to consider escalating the matter by informing the authors' institution, urging them to investigate the case. COPE also recommends revisiting the criteria for authorship with the authors.
Following COPE's guidance, the editor rejects the article and writes to the dean of the authors' faculty, outlining concerns and requesting an investigation. The dean responds promptly, expressing a serious commitment to addressing the issue. In an unexpected twist, one of the original authors of the published work, unaware of the attempted duplicate publication, expresses fury towards her colleagues.
The journal considers the case closed, having taken decisive action to uphold ethical standards and preserve the integrity of the scientific publishing process.
