EDITOR’S PAGE
Redundant Publication: Response
From the HEART Group
WILLIAM W. PARMLEY, MD, FACC
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
The Heart Editors Action Round Table (HEART) Group
consists of the editors-in-chief of the following journals:
American Heart Journal
The American Journal of Cardiology
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis
Chest
Circulation
Circulation Research
Clinical Cardiology
Coronary Artery Disease
Hypertension
Journal of Cardiac Failure
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
PACE
At its semiannual meetings, the HEART Group considers
matters of common interest and the adoption of similar
policies. At its November 1996 meeting, the Group considered
guidelines and policies relative to redundant publication. For
this purpose, redundant publication is defined by the sections
reprinted below from “Uniform Requirements for Manu-
scripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” (1):
Redundant or Duplicate Publication
Redundant or duplicate publication is publication of a
paper that overlaps substantially with one already published.
Readers of primary source periodicals deserve to be able to
trust that what they are reading is original unless there is a clear
statement that the article is being republished by the choice of
the author and editor. The bases of this position are interna-
tional copyright laws, ethical conduct, and cost-effective use of
resources.
Most journals do not wish to receive papers on work that
has already been reported in large part in a published article or
is contained in another paper that has been submitted or
accepted for publication elsewhere, in print or in electronic
media. This policy does not preclude the journal from consid-
ering a paper that has been rejected by another journal, or a
complete report that follows publication of a preliminary report
such as an abstract or poster displayed for colleagues at a
professional meeting. Nor does it prevent journals from con-
sidering a paper that has been presented at a scientific meeting
but not published in full or that is being considered for
publication in a proceedings or similar format. Press reports of
scheduled meetings will not usually be regarded as breaches of
this rule, but such reports should not be amplified by additional
data or copies of tables and illustrations.
When submitting a paper, an author should always make a
full statement to the editor about all submissions and previous
reports that might be regarded as redundant or duplicate
publication of the same or very similar work. The author should
alert the editor if the work includes subjects about whom a
previous report has been published. Any such work should be
referred to and referenced in the new paper. Copies of such
material should be included with the submitted paper to help
the editor decide how to deal with the matter.
If redundant or duplicate publication is attempted or occurs
without such notification, authors should expect editorial action
to be taken. At the least, prompt rejection of the manuscript
should be expected. If the editor was not aware of the violations
and the article has already been published, then a notice of
redundant or duplicate publication will probably be published
with or without the author’s explanation or approval.
Preliminary release, usually to public media, of scientific
information described in a paper that has been accepted but not
yet published violates the policies of many journals. In a few
cases, and only by arrangement with the editor, preliminary
release of data may be acceptable—for example, if there is a
public health emergency.
Acceptable Secondary Publication
Secondary publication in the same or another language,
especially in other countries, is justifiable, and can be beneficial,
provided all of the following conditions are met:
Address for correspondence: William W. Parmley, MD, Editor-in-Chief,
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 415 Judah Street, San Francisco,
California 94122.
JACC Vol. 30, No. 1
July 1997:316 –7
316
©1997 by the American College of Cardiology 0735-1097/97/$17.00
Published by Elsevier Science Inc. PII S0735-1097(97)00124-1