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Editorial

Plagiarism

Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations 30 (2012) 547–548

Although isolated instances of plagiarism have been ad- dressed by the Editors of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations over the years, we and editors of other journals have recently been faced with a growing concern that this issue may be increasing. As such, “plagiarism” has taken the form of what many generally understand involves “the act of representing the writing, thoughts, or statements of another person as one’s own and without attribution” (Dr. Mark Schoe- nberg). However, some have noted the increasing emergence also of “self-plagiarism,” which represents “the act of recy- cling one’s own previously presented or published work with- out substantial modification” and without reference to this earlier presentation (Dr. Mark Schoenberg).

The Editors of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Orig- inal Investigations, in recognizing the importance of these issues, had published a series of Seminars articles on pla- giarism in the January 2011 issue of the journal [1– 4]. Their ongoing concern on this problem prompts this editorial in underscoring its seriousness and the need for investigators and authors to understand, in submitting their manuscripts for publication, that neither plagiarism nor self-plagiarism in any form is acceptable.

In considering the overriding importance of this prob- lem, the Editors of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations at their Editorial Board Meeting on May 20, 2012 requested Drs. Mark Schoenberg, George Thalmann, Seth Lerner, and Robert Bahnson to form a committee to address these issues. Additional advice was solicited from Dr. David Bloom. The para- graphs in this editorial are comprised of either direct quotations (indicated in quotes with the contributor’s name in parentheses) or a distillation of discussions and a summary of the committee’s deliberations developed during the consideration of these issues.

This editorial is intended to clarify what these issues mean and how the Editors will interpret them in the context of the manuscripts they receive for review. This editorial will also present the committee’s recommendations for ac- tions that may be taken in addressing plagiarism and self- plagiarism for any article published in Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations.

“Scientific and medical communications are based on

honesty and integrity, values that are presumed among its

1078-1439/$ – see front matter © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2012.06.004

participants. Failures of honesty and integrity lead to loss of trust by colleagues and the public, a loss that is rarely fully restored. Plagiarism is the theft of ideas, words, artwork, or other scholarship of an individual without appropriate permission or attribution. This practice is dishonest and cannot be excused by laziness, sloppy referencing, time constraints, or even by methodological confusion or idiosyncrasy.” (Dr. David Bloom).

“Another aberrant behavior. . . is the practice of dupli- cative authorship or ‘self-plagiarism.’ It is never appropriate to represent one’s own recycled work as an original contri- bution. This practice is lazy or sloppy at best, and more likely overtly dishonest if the intent is to expand a CV or extend the impact of a person or team . . . Circumstances in which it may be appropriate to utilize one’s own concepts, words, or artwork depend upon acknowledgement and ref- erence to the repetition. Duplicative authorship [without attribution to earlier publication] . . . may warrant censure among peers.” (Dr. David Bloom).

The serious repercussions of either form of plagiarism as manifest in the impact they may have for the journal, au- thors, and investigators, and the journal’s readership man- date that these be reflected in the consequences for such activity. In going forward, the Editors and Publisher of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations have, therefore, decided to follow the recommendations of the Committee in implementing the following steps:

1. Immediate suspension of the peer review process for a manuscript under consideration pending further in- vestigation as to the accuracy of the claim of “plagia- rism” or “self-plagiarism.”

2. Notification of the author and co-authors of such suspen- sion and request for further information as to these claims.

3. Retraction of any reviewed or published article found after investigation to have plagiarized or self-plagia- rized content.

4. Suspension of submission privileges for publication by the authors for a period of no less than 3 years.

5. Notification to the Office of the Dean and/or Chief Academic Officer at the contributing author’s/inves- tigator’s home institution of these activities and the

journal’s actions.

R

548 M.J. Droller / Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations 30 (2012) 547–548

In considering such measures, the Editors and Publisher seek to protect the integrity of Urololgic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, the interests of its readership, and the legitimacy of those who choose to contribute their work to and have it published in the journal. They sincerely hope that the implementation of these measures will never be required and that authors and investigators will continue to take pride in having their original work published in Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, assured that such pub- lication represents the highest standards of scholarship.

Michael J. Droller, M.D. Editor

Department of Urology The Mount Sinai Medical Center

New York, NY, USA

and the ad hoc Committee on Plagiarism Robert R. Bahnson, M.D.

Seth P. Lerner, M.D. Mark Schoenberg, M.D.

George A. Thalmann, M.D.

eferences

[1] Anderson MS, Steneck NH. The problem of plagiarism. Urol Oncol Semin Orig Investig 2011;29:90 – 4.

[2] Garner HR. Combating unethical publications with plagiarism detec- tion services. Urol Oncol Semin Orig Investig 2011;29:95–9.

[3] Fischer BA, Zigmond MJ. Educational approaches for discouraging plagiarism. Urol Oncol Semin Orig Investig 2011;29:100 –3.

[4] Heitman E, Litewka S. International perspectives on plagiarism and considerations for teaching international trainees. Urol Oncol Semin

Orig Investig 2011;29:104 – 8.