John P. Mulhall, MD, presented “Publication Ethics: a Cancer in Academic Medicine” during the 42nd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar on February 4, 2023, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
How to cite: Mulhall, John P. “Publication Ethics: a Cancer in Academic Medicine.” February 4, 2023. Accessed Jul 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/publication-ethics-a-cancer-in-academic-medicine/
Publication Ethics: a Cancer in Academic Medicine – Summary
John P. Mulhall, MD, outlines the fundamental principles of publication ethics, including honesty, transparency, and accountability. He discusses the prevalence of unethical behaviors such as data fabrication, plagiarism, and authorship disputes, emphasizing how these practices undermine the credibility of scientific literature and erode public trust in medical research.
Dr. Mulhall also addresses the systemic factors contributing to unethical practices, including the pressure to publish, competition for funding, and the impact of metrics-driven evaluation systems on researchers’ behavior. Dr. Mulhall advocates for a cultural shift within academic medicine to prioritize ethical conduct over quantitative output.
Potential solutions to combat unethical practices are explored, with Dr. Mulhall emphasizing the need for comprehensive education and training in research ethics, stringent enforcement of ethical guidelines, and the establishment of transparent mechanisms for reporting and addressing misconduct.
About The 42nd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar:
The Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar is a multi-day meeting focused on training urologists in the latest in assessing, diagnosing, and treating urologic conditions in the clinical setting. Updates are provided on urologic cancers, stone disease, urologic reconstruction, female urology, infertility, sexual function, emerging surgical techniques, and general urology. The 42nd iteration of the meeting took place from February 1st to 4th, 2023, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John P. Mulhall, MD, is the director of the Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program and the director of the Sexual Medicine Research Laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City. Dr. Mulhall holds an adjunct position as Professor of Urology in the Department of Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He earned his medical degree from University College Dublin in Ireland and completed his urology residency training at University of Connecticut Health Center and his sexual/reproductive medicine & surgery fellowship training at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Mulhall has spent more than a decade studying radical prostatectomy associated with sexual dysfunctions and Peyronie’s Disease in laboratory and in clinical studies. His basic research interests include defining the pathobiology of Peyronie’s disease fibroblasts and erectile function preservation in cavernous nerve injury models.
Dr. Mullhall is a board-certified urologist and a microsurgeon who specializes in sexual and reproductive medicine and surgery. As a microsurgeon, he performs delicate procedures using operating microscopes and miniaturized precision instruments on the very small structures in the genitourinary tract. As part of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Survivorship Initiative, Dr. Mulhall and his team have established a Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program, which is devoted entirely to the care of men who have suffered sexual difficulties or fertility problems as a result of their cancer or cancer treatment. He directs the sexual and reproductive medicine team, which includes a nurse practitioner, a nurse, and a psychologist.
