[Ethics in articles published in medical journals]

Area of Science:

• Medical research ethics
• Scientific publishing standards
• Clinical article submission

Background:

• Authors in clinical fields share motivations and rules with other scientific disciplines.
• Medical research requires adherence to specific ethical rules for studies involving human subjects or their biological samples.
• Authors must declare compliance with ethical rules and any potential conflicts of interest upon submission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of ethical conduct in scientific writing for clinical articles.
• To address instances of author misconduct identified by journal editors.
• To emphasize the need for awareness of ethical norms in manuscript submission, publication, and reproduction.

Main Methods:

• Review of ethical guidelines from international organizations (e.g., ICMJE, WAME).
• Analysis of identified cases of author misconduct (redundant publications, plagiarism).
• Discussion of the responsibilities of authors, peer reviewers, and editors regarding ethical standards.

Main Results:

• Five instances of author misconduct were detected by Revista Médica de Chile editors.
• Four cases involved redundant publications, and one case involved plagiarism.
• Actions were taken based on recommendations from established medical journal editor groups.

Conclusions:

• Authors and their institutions must recognize and follow ethical rules in scientific reporting.
• Upholding ethical standards is crucial for maintaining the integrity of medical research and publications.
• Adherence to ethical norms prevents misconduct and ensures the trustworthiness of published clinical work.