Ethical imperative to publish extends to academics too

EDITOR,—I support John Pearn's view that publication of research findings is an ethical imperative.1 The medical community at large can assess the status of something only if all the relevant information is available.

The pharmaceutical industry is often accused of selective publication of results, and there is some truth in the accusation. There is just as much truth, however, in the charge that academics also fail to publish important items of information. They may not be driven by financial conflicts …