Recent letters (6 Dec., p. 1593; 24 Jan., p. 461) have proposed strict rules for co-authorship of scientific publications. I wholeheartedly agree that to put one's name on a paper is an assurance to the scientific community that one has contributed to the work and that one stands behind the work reported. However, one aspect of the co-authorship problem that I have not seen discussed in this forum is that of finding one's name as a co-author on a publication of which one has no knowledge. This recently happened to a colleague and me when we found a paper in a journal listing our names as co-authors, although neither of us had ever contributed to the work, seen the manuscript, or been notified of its submission or publication.

I felt victimized by this event and by the use of my name in an inappropriate manner. Integrity and reputation are among our major assets as scientists. I agree with previous letter writers that every reputable journal should secure a written statement from each author listed on a manuscript assuring that a contribution to the work was made and accepting responsibility for the work. Such a requirement will protect both the integrity of the literature from bogus authorship and the integrity of researchers whose names may be usurped.

Gerald N. Levy
Department of Pharmacology,
University of Michigan Medical School,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0632, USA
E-mail: gerald{at}umich.edu

How to Submit a Letter to the Editor

Volume 275, Number 5308, Issue of 28 March 1997, pp. 1861-1865.
©1997 by The American Association for the Advancement of Science.