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Hi Reader

I want to discuss an issue that has been bothering me for a while.

I was recently tasked by a prominent pharmaceutical client with conducting a comprehensive literature review on a new therapeutic approach for a rare neurological disorder.

As I sifted through hundreds of articles from PubMed and other scientific databases, I noticed something unusual: an alarming number of studies flagged as “retracted!”

Did You Know?

A quick filter in PubMed revealed that over the past 10 years, 17,391 articles have been retracted. The number has been exponentially increasing yearly. In 2022 alone, 5,941 were retracted.

Is the rise of advanced AI tools contributing to the detection of more fabricated papers? Or are we still missing a significant number of them?

The Problem

The scope of the issue revolves around the term “paper mills.” Paper mills are operations that produce fraudulent manuscripts for profit, often involving fabricated data and ghostwritten content. These papers are crafted to appear legitimate but are designed solely to exploit the academic publishing system.

Back to my project, one of the retracted papers I encountered described a novel biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. Upon closer inspection, I found the retraction notice stating that the data was entirely fabricated! This revelation made me question how many other studies in my review could be similarly tainted and how many other medical writers might have unknowingly relied on flawed or fraudulent research!

Fraudulent studies weren’t just academic issues—they posed significant risks to the credibility of medical writers. Any content we produce based on flawed research could mislead healthcare providers, patients, and stakeholders, causing harm. The thought alone sends a shiver down my spine!

Challenging the Gold Standard

I thought back to my early days as a PhD graduate student when I believed peer-reviewed journals were a gold standard. Now, I understand the importance of vigilance and skepticism, even when working with seemingly reputable sources. This realization transformed how I approach my work. I no longer rely solely on the reputation of a journal or the fact that a study has been peer-reviewed. Instead, I scrutinize the methods, analyze the data for consistency, and cross-reference findings with other reputable sources. I’ve also started using tools like Retraction Watch to check the integrity of the articles I cite. This shift in perspective has reinforced my commitment to producing work that others can trust.

Taking Action

Guanine Medical Academy was established with the mission to educate and promote awareness among the medical writing community, encouraging our peers to regard this matter with seriousness. This is why I have developed a FREE guide to assist novice medical writers who might be unfamiliar with paper mills and emphasize that supporting our clients in this regard is part of our duty.

Academy Updates

Enrollment for our advisory board course remains open, and we now offer a variety of coaching packages for selection, along with many free digital downloads.

We’re excited to announce plans for more medical writing educational content in 2025! If there’s a specific topic you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear from you. This academy is built for you, and your interest in learning inspires everything we do!

Reply to this email and let us know if you have questions or challenges.

To your success,

Thank you for joining the Pen and Parents Newsletter, a resource for freelance medical writers who proudly wear the badge of motherhood! Nisreen Shumayrikh, PhD Find me on Social Media ​​​​

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