RESEARCH ARTICLE RETRACTION: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Evil of publishing fraudulent medical research papers has become prevalent. Last year (2023) the annual number of papers retracted by research journals topped 10,000 for the first time. Retractions are typically made in cases of scientific misconduct, data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, or other serious ethical violations. Retractions are important for maintaining the integrity and credibility of scientific literature, as they help to correct the scientific record and prevent the dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information. The publication of sham science papers has its roots in some countries where young doctors and scientists seeking promotion were required to have published scientific papers. Research article writing should not be mandatory for medical teachers working at the undergraduate level. Allowing medical teachers to pursue research on a voluntary or optional basis will contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge without compromising on quality of research and it will ultimately result in a smaller number of retractions. Pak J Physiol 2024;20(3):1?2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v20i3.1668