A manuscript is not just a collection of paragraphs, it is a result of hard work by researchers, particularly the first author. As reflected in its content, it can be a work of a few months to a few years. This work is what makes a manuscript worthy of publication in reputed journals. For an author, especially the first author, a manuscript can mean the world, which can eventually lead to the graduation of a Ph.D. scholar or may serve as a ticket to admission into a prestigious university for a Master’s student.
Historically, in academia, it has been an unethical practice to alter the order of authors’ names or to completely remove one or more contributors from a manuscript. Such actions are often carried out by supervisors, colleagues, or co-authors. A well-known example is the case of Rosalind Franklin and the DNA double helix model (1953). The famous DNA double helix model is primarily credited to James Watson and Francis Crick. However, Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images (notably “Photo 51”) were crucial. Without her knowledge, her data were shown to Watson and Crick by Maurice Wilkins. As a result, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in 1962. Franklin, who had died in 1958, was not credited equally.
Lately, we have seen an increase in such instances where the order of authors’ names is changed easily without their consent. This growing visibility may be due in part to the social media platforms where people speak up against injustice. However, many students in the early stages of their careers often choose to remain silent, either out of fear for their future prospects or because they prefer to handle such issues privately.
I have personally experienced such situations during my scientific career. Once, I was replaced as a third author right from the first one after my work was claimed by a co-author. Similarly, after co-guiding a couple of students during their Ph.D. projects, I was unexpectedly stripped of access to the manuscript, even after asking multiple times to review the manuscript myself. After a couple of years, I found out that the corresponding author published the paper in a journal with me being the fifth author. Although I was promised to be a co-corresponding author in it. Imagine guiding biology students through the bioinformatics components of their entire project, only to be placed fifth on the author list, behind even those who contributed little or nothing. Such experiences reflect unethical authorship practices that need to be addressed.
What is unethical about it?
- The unethical thing is that without the consent of the authors, whether being the first author or a co-corresponding author, the order is changed. In my case, I wasn’t even provided with the published PDF of the paper, not even the link, only a screenshot of the title. Similarly, I see many students demanding justice for the same.
- I have also seen some scenarios where the first author is replaced by someone simply because they covered the article processing charges (APCs). But does financial contribution equate to the months or even years of hard work put in by the original first author? Absolutely not.
- Some co-authors claim that the manuscript version written by the first author was not correct. So they corrected it and became the first author. Of course, it is not going to be accurate in one go; that’s why we call it a draft. The guide or a co-guide suggests changes, and the first author implements them in the manuscript, also asking co-authors to make changes at their end. That’s how we get multiple versions of a manuscript before submission, improving in each one. But it doesn’t mean you can go behind someone’s back and correct it. Later, represent it to your guide, claiming the first authorship. This is highly unprofessional.
- Some supervisors or co-authors claim first authorship because they extended the work or added an experiment. But does performing a single additional experiment justify replacing the original first author? No, unless you did perform the major experiments resulting in a fundamental change in the direction of study. Even then, you are entitled to equal contribution but not the first authorship. Because a project initially started by the first author lays the foundation for any work or outcomes. One cannot ethically claim the first author position based on a few additional experiments, minor corrections, or revisions.
- Utilizing someone’s capabilities without giving them the recognition or credit they deserve is considered unethical.
Outcomes
- Increased mental stress for scholars. It’s not only that they are going through a lot of stress during their Ph.D, they have to endure that too.
- A loss of trust in the guide or collaborator.
- If we look at another level, working as an experienced researcher with a reputed faculty member results in being taken advantage of your skills, leads to a loss of respect and abandoning working with them in the future.
- Scholars losing authorship in highly reputed journals can impact their job or selection in a reputable university or companies.
- Researchers leave academia and avoid future collaborations.
- Losing original ideas or analyses will result in distorting scientific progress.
