Ethics in dental research. Publication of research: the ethical dimension.

If science is to achieve its goal, i.e., advancement of human well-being, the results of scientific research must be made available. When such results are presented, that presentation must be 'ethical'; it must conform to recognized standards of honesty, originality, and fairness. Unfortunately, not all such presentations conform to these standards; the public and scientific community alike are becoming ever more concerned about duplication in publication, about illegitimate claims to authorship, and about misleading use of statistics in presentation of experimental results. Certain of these 'unethical' practices can be eliminated or minimized by education, institutional practice, and requirements set by scientific journals. In the end, however, 'ethical publication' will depend on the 'ethical investigator'--an individual who has professed dedication to truth and the well-being of mankind.