The retraction last week of a commentary in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) looks like a nice — and very quick — example of self-correction in science. The commentary, “Designing a randomized clinical trial to evaluate personalized medicine: a new approach based on risk prediction,” was co-authored by Stuart Baker and Daniel … Continue reading A lightning-fast JNCI retraction shows how science should work
Premature withdrawal can lead to frustration and hurt feelings — especially when it comes to publications (please, this is a family-friendly site). Two cases in point: We recently learned that the International Journal of Surgery, an Elsevier title, had withdrawn two papers from the CONSORT group — an acronym for Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials … Continue reading Penalties for early withdrawal: irked CONSORT Group authors
Thrombosis and Haemostasis has issued an “expression of concern” over a 2004 paper by Tunisian researchers: Concerns have been raised by readers about the accuracy and validity of the data reported in the September 2004 article by Abdelkefi et al., entitled “Prevention of central venous line-related thrombosis by continuous infusion of low-dose unfractionated heparin, in … Continue reading Our computer ate the data: Expression of concern over blood thinner study raises concerns itself
Most retractions happen in the dark: An article appears in print. One day it is withdrawn, with only a brief paragraph or two on the page to alert us to its fate. On rare occasions, however, the process is more transparent, and when that happens it’s like the publishing equivalent of a supernova, a chance … Continue reading Rheumatology journal retracts tai chi-arthritis paper over fraud concerns