Ethics in research and impunity of anonymous reviewers

Abstract

Publication of Scientist’s code of conduct in the December 2012 created the need for article regarding the issue of impunity of anonymous reviewers. The author presents the initiatives of scientific communities undertaken to prevent and combat unethical conduct in science and raises questions concerning the effectiveness of the published Code. Indeed, in the opinion of the author anonymous experts/reviewers appointed to evaluate and assess grant applications have administrative possibility for abuses, which can lead to the unethical behavior of some researchers. In this way unknown or unidentified experts/reviewers evaluating grant applications can hamper actions of fellow researchers or even seize research ideas and present them as their own. Anonymity lets them commit such deeds without any consequences.