Integrity at the Croatian Medical Journal

Barbara Sibbald; Ken Flegel

doi:10.1503/cmaj.080741

Submit a Response to This Article

Compose Response

Title *

References

Author Information

Contributors

First Name and Middle Initial *

First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.

Last Name *

Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.

Degrees

Email Address *

Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com

Occupation *

Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'. Minimum 7 characters.

Affiliation *

Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'. Minimum 12 characters.

Address

Your organization, institution's or residential address.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

Integrity of the Croatian Medical Journal
Jovan G. Simeon

Posted on: 13 August 2008

Posted on: (13 August 2008)
Page navigation anchor for Integrity of the Croatian Medical Journal
Integrity of the Croatian Medical Journal
Jovan G. Simeon
June 25th, 2008
Barbara Sibbald BJ Deputy Editor, News and Humanities CMAJ
Dear Ms. Sibbald,
I read the CMAJ editorial “Integrity at the Croatian Medical Journal” with great interest. The problems reviewed left me concerned, embarrassed and even ashamed. First of all, I have always been proud to be a graduate of the Zagreb University Medical Facility, and have held in high esteem my former teac...
Show More

June 25th, 2008
Barbara Sibbald BJ Deputy Editor, News and Humanities CMAJ
Dear Ms. Sibbald,
I read the CMAJ editorial “Integrity at the Croatian Medical Journal” with great interest. The problems reviewed left me concerned, embarrassed and even ashamed. First of all, I have always been proud to be a graduate of the Zagreb University Medical Facility, and have held in high esteem my former teachers for their knowledge, professional integrity and ethical standards. The editorial also evoked student memories of teachers who served as my models during my entire career. I still vividly remember professors such as Perovic, Krmpotic, Knezevic, Sercer, Kogoj, Stampar, and many others. At our graduating ceremony Dr. Bozovic addressed the young doctors to remember asking themselves at the end of their career “What kind of a doctor have I been ?”
I am troubled by the apparent tolerance of plagiarism and unethical behaviour of professionals by authorities of the Zagreb School of Medicine, who should in fact set standards for scientific honesty. Even more important, I am left with a very uneasy impression that the incidents reported are just the tip of an iceberg. The problems discussed relate to editorial independence that is essential for professional integrity and credibility. As a physician who has published research findings and also served on editorial boards I endorse the view that allegations of plagiarism ought to be taken more seriously. Further, I am very concerned with the proposed changes to the Croation Medical Journal’s governance structure. I congratulate the CMAJ for its editorial on professional integrity and editorial independence, and fully support the formation of an independent panel to review and help resolve the problems discussed – the implications are not local, but international.
Sincerely,
Dr. J. G. Simeon, M.D., FRCPC Professor of Psychiatry CHEO, Mental Health Outpatient Services 200-311 McArthur Ave., Vanier, ON K1L 8M3 Canada
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.