What Is Your Opinion on the “Medical Ethics of Medical Journal Editors”?
Sukhit Phaosavasdi, MD*, Surasak Taneepanichskul, MD*, Yuen Tannirandorn, MD*, Manopchai Thamkhantho, MD, MRCOG*, Chumsak Prugsapong, MD*, Vorapong Phupong, MD*, Aurchart Karnjanapitak, MD*
Affiliation : * Member of The Medical Association of Thailand
The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has currently issued the statement
regarding the Registration of Clinical trial in Registration of Clinical Trial in Human Beings, be effective on 13
September 2005, which require research methodology, hypothesis, outcome measurements, criteria for sample
selection and volunteer recruitment, the date of research commencement and termination, the last day of
volunteer follow-up, the report of the research, the research funding and the researcher correspondence which
all of these has been clearly stated in research proposal (draft) issued by the National Library of Medicine
(NLM)(1,2).
Previously, the editors of the medical journals were likely to either select or discard the articles for
publication which depends on only positive results or simply innovative treatment. And also unacceptable to
publish the substandard or failed research. Nevertheless, some researches are academically correct for research
methodology but unfortunately highly involved in commerce. These researches won’t be published and cause
so many researchers to unrecognize the vitality and core of researches which have been done.
Providing all data for clinical trial registration might leak all the secrets of research funding companies
and lead to the obstacles in commerce and delay the process of research.
On the other hand, to expose the research methodology will reassure society to gain more confidence
and encourage all the research volunteers to be proud of health promotion in human beings.
The ICMJE statement is still not either popular or well circulated, even the NLM and Network in
America will accept the registration thru www.clincaltrial.gov and for ICMJE will accept the registration thru
www.controlled-trials.com but for researchers in other countries it is still not easy to find the site of registration(3).
“The Journal of Medical Association of Thailand” are deeply concerned that our medical physicians
and colleagues might be gravely affected from the ICMJE statement. In case of one of ours submit the original
article for publication might be turned down because of the new tight rule. Because of “The Journal of Medical
Association of Thailand” are collectively included in Medical Index of National Library of Medicine which will
keep “The Journal of Medical Association of Thailand” in the Arena International Standard(4).
Keywords : ICMJE, Clinical trial registration
