Authorship and accountability

Abstract

Publication in any medical journal is almost always a cause for celebration for authors, and confers credit, which leads to academic, social, and sometimes financial rewards. Publication marks the end of one stage in a project or research study, and the beginning of full peer review by the academic community. Scientific debate is fuelled by publication, and occasionally that debate raises concerns, some of which might be addressed in correspondence columns. Rarely, concerns escalate to the extent that the integrity of the research or published paper is brought into question. When that happens, the journal's editors turn to the authors first for their explanation. Sadly, at that point, authors too often try and distance themselves from the published paper or attempt to shift responsibility elsewhere. Resolution of problems is then at best delayed while editors seek answers from reluctant authors, and at worst incomplete if authors fail to respond comprehensively to concerns. To ensure that those credited as authors recognise their role in taking responsibility and being accountable for what is published, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has added a fourth criterion for authorship as part of the new ICMJE Recommendations. The ICMJE now recommends that authorship be based on the following four criteria: (1) substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; and (2) drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (3) final approval of the version to be published; and (4) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work thereby ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All those designated as authors of a manuscript submitted to ICMJE member journals should meet all four criteria. The Lancet, as an ICMJE member, fully supports the new ICMJE Recommendations (previously known as the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical journals [URMs] or Vancouver guidelines).