From Mercola.com – November 26, 2011

One of the more flagrant offenses committed by pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession is the practice of “ghostwriting” medical articles.

A new cross-sectional survey found that more than 20 percent of articles published in six leading medical journals during 2008 were likely written by honorary- and/or ghost writers.

This is lower than it was in 1996, but still far too common for comfort.

For medical journals, ghostwriting usually refers to writers sponsored by a drug or medical device company, who make major but uncredited research- or writing contributions.

The articles are instead published under the names of academic authors.

Such “inappropriate authorship” leads to a lack of transparency and accountability, which has become an important concern for the academic community.

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