Scientific Publications

Abstract

Knapp and Hulbert delve deeper into the world of ghostwritten academic publications introduced in Chap. 6, focusing on the publication of research in scientific and medical fields. The concept of honorary or guest authorship, where prominent researchers may lend their names to publications largely authored by industry-hired writers, is explored; the role of such communications in pharmaceutical marketing is also discussed. The authors then turn to the work of professional associations to consider how scientific authorship differs from authorship in other disciplines, and describe the need for trust and transparency in the field. The authors conclude by offering reflections on the practice of ghostwriting in the scientific and medical context through the lens of the ethical framework introduced in Chap. 1.