Judging words rather than journals or authors: a reminder that peer review continues after publication.

Sir, That the readers of scientific articles should judge words rather than journals or authors may appear to be stating the obvious, yet the fact remains that, in many cases, rather than what is written, where it is published, and by whom, appeals to and has impact on researchers, funding agencies and universities. In the pre-publication phase, journal editors and reviewers try hard to judge what and how scientific material will see the light of publication. To this end, scientists like Drummond Rennie and his colleagues, for instance in the International Committee of …