Neonatal jaundice and scientific fraud in 1804

Area of Science:

• Medical History
• Neonatology
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• The University of Paris challenged scholars in 1785 to describe neonatal jaundice and its management.
• Jean Baptiste Timothée Baumes won the prize with his 1788 publication detailing 10 neonatal cases.

Discussion:

• This analysis compares Baumes' 1788 work with François Bidault's 1804 thesis and Baumes' 1806 revision.
• Evidence confirms Bidault plagiarized Baumes' case descriptions and theories, reducing the original text's length.

Key Insights:

• François Bidault plagiarized Jean Baptiste Timothée Baumes' work on neonatal jaundice.
• Bidault's thesis contained verbatim transcripts from Baumes' prize-winning paper.

Outlook:

• Baumes accused Bidault of dishonesty in his 1806 revision, urging university action.
• Incomplete university records prevent confirmation of any disciplinary measures against Bidault.