Rise (and Rise) of Publication Ethics

1. Publication ethics and guidelines around transparency, accountability, and integrity have rapidly expanded in recent years through legislation, recommendations, and publisher policies. 2. A 2008 survey found editors were often unaware of the true prevalence of misconduct like falsification or fabrication, which some studies estimate occurs in over 1,300 cases per year in the US alone, far more than are typically investigated. 3. Major guidelines like the Declaration of Helsinki and ICMJE recommendations increasingly emphasize complete and accurate reporting of results and adherence to ethical standards, while allowing posting of trial results prior to publication.