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Published online 15 April 2008 | 452, 791 (2008) | doi:10.1038/452791b
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Merck accused of disguising its role in research
Drug company used ghost-writers for papers published on Vioxx trials.
International drug giant Merck stands accused this week of manipulating research papers on one of its products published in medical journals.
Thousands of documents relating to Merck’s withdrawn painkiller rofecoxib (Vioxx) were made available as part of a legal action.
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While it is outrageous that Merck is following these practices, as a scientist I find it even more worrying, disappointing, and unethical that an academic lend his/her name to a research he/she has not conducted. Such behavior should be also investigated and, in case any wrongdoing is established, should be also reprimanded. Such behavior is tantamount to plagiarism, though somewhat voluntary from the affected part. It is, again, one of those cases where ambitious "scientists" betray the principles upon which we all work and publish.
Scientific field is now getting crowded by such corporate lobbies and so-called “scientists� without any honesty, integrity and morality towards science or the society. Lack of suitable career opportunities for young scientists, low paying but highly demanding postdoc experience and high pressue to get projects are making the situation worse. The number of such money and power/fame hungry scientists seems to be increasing. Many high profile companies are routinely employing young scientists (even in countries like India, China etc) to write such “ghost� articles in scientific journals with their data of choice and that practice seems to be highly secret. This case seems to be the tip of iceberg and came to public view due to this high-profile law suit.