In academic and scientific research, co-authorship is more than a courtesy, it reflects contribution, responsibility, and accountability. Unethical practices, such as including ghost or gift authors on research papers, continue to undermine the integrity of scholarly publishing. While collaboration should promote fairness and transparency, unethical attribution of authorship, whether through ghost authors or gift authors, creates misleading academic records and unfair advantages.
This article explores the ethical challenges associated with ghost or gift authors, provides clear definitions, explains their implications, and offers strategies to avoid these authorship pitfalls.
The term ghost or gift authors refers to two types of unethical authorship:
Ghost authors are individuals who made substantial contributions to the research but were not acknowledged or listed as co-authors. Gift authors (also called honorary authors) are those who are listed as co-authors despite contributing little or nothing to the research or writing process.
Both practices distort the reality of who was involved in producing a study. In either case, the final publication misrepresents the true contributors. This includes omitting key players (ghost authors) or inflating the team with non-contributors (gift authors).
The presence of ghost or gift authors in research articles, raises serious ethical issues. Here’s why:
Ghost authors violate the principle of transparency by hiding the involvement of contributors, while gift authors create the false impression of contribution. In both cases, the academic record becomes inaccurate.
When gift authors receive credit without merit, they gain undeserved career benefits such as promotions, funding, or professional visibility. At the same time, ghost authors are denied the recognition they have earned.
Authorship implies responsibility for the content of the paper. If ghost authors wrote or designed large parts of the study, the listed authors may not fully understand or be able to defend the work. Similarly, gift authors may not be qualified to respond to critiques or ethical inquiries, yet they are seen as accountable.
Ghost authors are especially problematic in industry-sponsored research, where pharmaceutical companies or marketing firms hire writers to draft favourable articles under the names of prominent academics. This masks potential bias and manipulates scientific discourse.
Instances of ghost or gift authors have come to light in high-profile cases. One notable example involved a major pharmaceutical company that hired ghost authors to write clinical trial reports, which were then published under the names of respected researchers who had little to do with the actual writing. In academia, it’s common for department heads to be added as gift authors to students’ papers simply because of their position, not because of contribution.
These practices are not just unethical. They can damage careers, retract publications, and erode public trust in science.
Understanding how to spot ghost or gift authors begins with knowing what qualifies someone to be an author. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) outlines clear criteria:
Anyone who meets all four criteria should be listed as an author. Those who don’t meet these but contributed in other ways (e.g., data collection, administrative support) should be acknowledged, but not listed as co-authors. Failing to follow these standards can result in the inclusion of gift authors or exclusion of legitimate contributors as ghost authors.
Preventing the presence of ghost or gift authors requires proactive planning and clear communication among research teams.
Don’t wait until the paper is ready to be submitted. At the beginning of the project, clearly define who will be included as authors and what is expected from each contributor. This reduces confusion and the temptation to include gift authors later.
Tools like the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT) system provide a structured way to list individual contributions, including writing, data curation, supervision, methodology, and more. This helps distinguish genuine authors from ghost authors and clarifies who did what.
Maintain written records of contributions throughout the research project. This can help justify authorship decisions and defend against accusations of ghost or gift authors later.
Many gift authors or ghost authors are included or excluded simply because researchers are unaware of authorship guidelines. Educating teams, especially early-career researchers about ethical standards, is critical.
Many academic journals now require author contribution statements and discourage the use of ghost or gift authors. Some even request that each author describe their role in the project to prevent authorship disputes.
If journals suspect the involvement of ghost authors or gift authors, they may investigate the matter, request clarifications, or reject the paper. In severe cases, papers may be retracted, and authors may face institutional disciplinary action.
At its best, co-authorship is a form of intellectual collaboration and mutual respect. Avoiding ghost or gift authors ensures that the final publication accurately reflects the team’s work and upholds the standards of research integrity.
Ghost authors should never be hidden in the background, especially when they have made substantial intellectual or writing contributions. At the same time, gift authors should not be added simply for prestige or politics. Ethical research requires that only those who earn authorship, receive it. Those who do not meet the criteria should not be listed.
In summary, ghost or gift authors are serious ethical issues that can damage the credibility of research and the reputation of those involved. By understanding what constitutes ghost authors and gift authors, researchers can take steps to ensure that authorship is assigned fairly and transparently.
To maintain integrity in research, every scholar must take a stand against ghost or gift authors. Through early communication, documentation, adherence to authorship guidelines, and education, the academic community can move toward a future where every author listed on a paper truly earned their place and where ghost authors and gift authors become a thing of the past.
