A Japanese anesthesiologist who just notched his sixth retraction apologized for his misconduct and said his institution is now investigating his entire body of work.
Hironobu Ueshima, of Showa University in Tokyo, who has roughly 170 publications, told Retraction Watch by email:
I want to apologize for my misconduct. Showa University has already launched the investigation committee and all my works are currently under the investigation. The committee will make the results public [in the] near future.
One of Ueshima’s co-authors on several of his now-retracted articles includes Hiroshi Otake, also of Showa University. Otake, the chair of the department, is a major player in the field of anesthesiology worldwide. He sits on the board of directors as secretary of the International Anesthesia Research Society, which publishes Anesthesia & Analgesia, one of the leading journals for the specialty.
Otake has not replied to our request for comment.
More on this case here.
Update, 0130 UTC, 6/26/20: Otake tells Retraction Watch:
It is in the process of the investigation of his work by Showa University. The investigation committee will report about his misconduct and the punishment.
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What was the nature of the misconduct? Was it data fabrication or something else?