Abstract
Author is a person who writes or creates a new document1
. Authorship can be given to a person who generates an idea of research
or contributes in collection of data to prove a certain fact or does the analysis and interpretation of relevant data. The author is
accountable for the concept, write up, interpretation and analysis of facts related to the lives and death of patients, evidences related
to the presentation of diseases, effects of drugs and truths about the prevalence patterns of disease2
. Cross-institutional researches
can be conducted by the Clinicians and must build international relationships to foster goodwill to plan for future collaborations with
groups who have access to patients and data3
. Authorship of a medical paper is an honour that has to be earned through genuine
contribution and needs a declaration. An informed consent highlights the transparency of the sincere intent for the publication4
.
Ethical and moral values need to be followed in order to publish an authentic research2
. Nominating a person as an author who has
not fulfilled any of the above criteria is unethical. It may fall under the category of gift, ghost or courtesy authorship5,6. One researcher
does all the hard work but at the time of publication many additional names are added because of some friendship gesture, favour
from someone or even some pressure from the seniors7
. Junior researchers may add the names seeking favour to enhance the process
of publication. Funding for research may be facilitated by adding the name of some known researcher8
. Gifting a publication to
someone may give unfair professional advantage to someone while applying for jobs or appearing for an interview or for promotion9
.
The number of authors who are given the credit of authorship is also limited by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council which grants
the certificate required for the promotion to a higher post. The factor which are encouraging this unethical practice is publish or perish
policy. In Pakistan because the number of published articles are related to the promotions .The is a certain number of papers to qualify
for the post of the assistant associate or the professor10. The student or the post graduate trainee or subordinate or colleague may
add the name of any other person to get some benefit in future7
. The name of the senior also increases the probability of early
publication. Sometimes there is financial assistance for the research from a laboratory or some organization and in reward the
authorship is given11
. There is also a reshuffle of the order of the authors and the juniors despite being doing too much work are
lowest in the order. Blood relations are given credits for a publication and thus it falsely raises the competency level of an individual
which may create professional jealousies1
Khadija Iqbal. (2019) Issues of authorship; Journey from credit to accountability, Isra Medical Journal, Volume 11, Issue 5.
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