Prestigious Journals, Predatory Publishers and the Tall Poppy Syndrome in Medicine: A Brief Overview

Fringe medicine (euphemistically called alternative), their articles (sometimes called throw aways) and products (supplements) have peacefully but uncomfortably coexisted with traditional medicine. The advent of the internet and the spread of misinformation have made traditional medicine evaluate the interpretation of all medical information. Traditional or prestigious journals, not without their own failings, are now in competition with the internet which includes open access e-journals, which have given rise to predatory publishers, as well as medical misinformation.

A case report illustrates how misinformation in Lancet (prestigious journal) led to the anti-vaccination movement. Two papers within a year refuted the findings and Lancet eventually retracted the article. The lead author lost his medical license and became a victim of the Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) for his egregious actions. Authors, editors and readers must remain vigilant for misinformation in the age of literal and figurative virality.