The authors respond to “Rigorous policies ensure integrity of NLM literature databases”

Manca et al. (1) appear not to have fully read or understood the comprehensive response from our colleagues from PubMed to their misconception of the way PubMed works (2).

They suggest to ignite a thoughtful debate on the subject of predatory journals contaminating trusted sources of information, such as legitimate biomedical databases. The response that the topic -how journals are included in PubMed and PubMed Central- is too complex and articulated to be comprehensively and concisely summarized, is incorrect. If there are complexities or details, these should be uncovered, and that is what our PubMed colleagues did. One might argue that Manca et al. did not make incorrect statements about PubMed and National Library of Medicine policies, but they did paint a very incomplete picture.

In order to secure PubMed from being contaminated by "the outputs of deceptive journals and publishers", in essence the main goal of Manca et al., there is a simple solution: tell it to the authors. Educate them in publication ethics and practices. If an author does not publish in a criminally deceptive journal, there will not be a further contamination. Or to put in other words: ask your librarian.

1. Manca A, Moher D, Cugusi L, Dvir Z, Deriu F. The authors respond to "Rigorous policies ensure integrity of NLM literature databases". CMAJ. 2019 Mar 11;191(10):E290. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.71703.
2. Topper L, Marill J, Kelly C, Funk K. Rigorous policies ensure integrity of NLM literature databases. CMAJ. 2019 Mar 11;191(10):E289. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.71602.