Radboudumc researcher René Aquarius discovered that scientific articles are sometimes altered without this being disclosed. Together with international colleagues, he authored a paper on this subject that has just been published. The authors advocate for better documentation of all modifications in scientific publications.
René Aquarius found identical images linked to different groups and reported this on PubPeer. After several months, it turned out that the article had been modified without the correction being noted. Several scientists on PubPeer reported similar experiences. In their study, they highlight 131 instances of so-called “stealth corrections" across various publishers and fields. One of these publishers is MDPI, whose quality has long been questioned.
These practices compromise the reliability of science. René Aquarius stated, "From an ethical standpoint, I believe that all corrections made to a scientific article should be disclosed, with the date and reason provided. Whether it is a typographical error, a misplaced comma, or an image used twice—it is a matter of scientific integrity."
René and his colleagues also offer recommendations in their paper: public registration of all post-publication changes, clear definitions and guidelines, and sustained vigilance to report stealth corrections.
You can read the complete article on this page.