Ensuring Integrity in Biomedical Publication

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Abstract
THE COMPLEX cooperative enterprise that characterizes modern science depends on the maintenance of two attitudes, skepticism and collegiality, which are not easily reconciled one with the other. The friendship and trust that sustain collegiality can make objective criticism extremely difficult and undermine the ability to maintain the healthy skepticism needed for evaluating the ideas, data, and conclusions of scientific research. Recent cases of fraud in science have raised the question whether the assumption of integrity has interfered with our ability to be appropriately critical of our colleagues' research, to respond appropriately, and to be sufficiently diligent in detecting and correcting the problems when these events occur. Are we adequately teaching the scientific investigators and administrators of the future about the delicate balance of skepticism and collegiality, and the need for both in the social system of science? How can we ensure that the ongoing processes of scientific research and appraisal