Microsoft Word - Editorial for March issue 2018-1 Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2018; 9(1): Editorial for special issue on publication ethics, March 2018 Dear Readers, Happy Summer Holidays for all of us up in the Northern Hemisphere. While we are basking in the warmth of sunny days our friends in Australia are buying winter clothes. How strange is this world! And stranger are the creations who are supposed to look after all other organic and inorganic objects in this planet and maybe beyond. The simple virtues of ethical and value based behavior is often forgotten when we are focus on getting the best for ourselves without thinking or respecting the rights of others. The case of ethics in publication is not any different. We have few papers this issue but they are of extreme value and relevance: The paper by Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva titled ‘Macchiarini Gate: The Fall from Grace of Stem Cell Healer, Paolo Macchiarini, and Clues and Concerns from the Early Literature that Cast Ethical Doubts ‘ is a real eye opener into the misconduct and ethical behavior of doctors to patients. This article indeed takes an important realistic look into what is happening in the medical innovation field and how authorities and patients are being fooled to believe in magical cures without and real scientific evidence, which are being manipulated to produce results for the financial benefit of a particular physician. The dream of being cured, without any pain is a very understandable emotion and belief which has been long existing from the very ancient times. Even now people believe in crystals and, remote places where the Fountain of Youth is believed to have existed. So Dr. Paolo Macchiarini , a tracheal surgeon in 2008 became famous with the transplantation of a trachea from a dead body and the patient’s stem cells to ‘regenerate’ new trachea. Among the nine patients operated by Macchiarini, six had died. Allegations of misconduct against Macchiarini was filed in 2014 by the Karolinska Institutet (KI) fellows and an independent investigation was launched. The Institute claimed that not only was the procedure of high risk, patients information was incomplete and none or incomplete ethical approval were taken. This constitutes gross malpractice and misconduct. In 2016, the results of the investigation came out and most of these allegations have been proven to be true, Macchiarini was found guilty and actions taken accordingly. This paper will be a real help to many modern day patients who are being lured into medical interventions with the promise of being cured. Yet none of them has been scientifically proved or received formal approval from any country’s medical regulatory boards like USFDA and others. The ethical norms and values of many physicians particularly the new fad of PRP and Stem Cells have been overcome by the greed for money, fame without caring about the patients’ real needs and taking advantage of their pain and dependence, when all reasons are ignored. Are these 1st world doctors better than the quacks in the bazaars of Bangladesh and India where a single powder of Taka 50 will cure you of all maladies from diabetes, infertility to cancer? Another interesting paper titled ‘Peer Review system: A Golden standard for publications process’ by Shamima Parvin Lasker looks deeply into the peer review process. How Peer review can help to improve an article, kinds peer review and also remuneration of reviewers. The Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2018; 9(1): Hon’ble author is excellent in pointing out not only the need for in depth, un- biased peer reviews but also how paying to the reviewers could often lead to conflict of Interest. The paper on ‘Basic Concept of Intellectual property Rights (IPRs)’ by Arif Hossain explores the gamut of Intellectual rights. The author states that different classifications of IPRs have been formulated to protect the original work and the credit of the author and researchers. These are patent, copy rights, license, trade mark, trade dress and trade secret. The author concludes that the basic knowledge about copyright and ownership of a publication is needed to avoid embarrassment and harassment. It seems actions in this is needed in terms of Knowledge and Information specially for the students and researchers. This paper concludes our publication for this issue and we are really proud to state that Quality has clearly outpaced Quantity in our cherished Bangladesh Journal of Bio Ethics. Have a Great summer/ winter and enjoy this lovely time with all. See you next issue with more interesting and insightful papers. Best Wishes Professor Tahera Ahmed Editor