In response to allegations of data fabrication raised by obstetrician-gynecologist Ben Mol and subsequent resignation of 10 editors, two BMC journals, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, and BMC Women's Health, have placed editor's notes on flagged studies.
The allegations, initially sent by Mol on January 29, 2024, were followed by the resignation of the editors when BMC failed to respond by February 28. Mohamed Abdelmonem Kamel, the corresponding author of the flagged articles, initially did not respond to inquiries but later defended the work, stating that data could not be shared due to concerns about data theft.
Last week, the journals added editor's notes to the flagged papers, indicating that the reliability of the data presented in the articles is currently in question, and appropriate editorial action will be taken once the matter is resolved.
Despite this move, it appears that the editors who resigned are not planning to rejoin the board until more decisive action is taken. Alexander Heazell, from the University of Manchester, stated that based on communications he has seen, his colleagues and he are awaiting further action before considering rejoining the editorial board.
The situation underscores the importance of addressing allegations of research misconduct promptly and transparently, maintaining the integrity of scientific publications, and restoring trust within the academic community.
