RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Should all medical research be published? The moral responsibility of medical journal editors
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 703
OP 709
DO 10.1136/medethics-2018-104785
VO 44
IS 10
A1 Thomas Ploug
YR 2018
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/44/10/703.2.abstract
AB This article reinvigorates a key question in publication ethics: Is there research that it is permissible to conduct but that ought not to be published? The article raises the question in relation to two recent medical studies. It is argued (1) that the publication of these studies may cause significant harm to individuals, (2) that editors of medical journals have a moral responsibility for such harm, (3) that denial of publication is inadequate as an instrument to fulfil this moral responsibility and (4) that internationally acknowledged publication ethics codes should incorporate this aspect of editors’ moral responsibility.