What is the purpose of an authorship adjudication group?

The purpose of an authorship adjudication group is to provide guidance on authorship criteria. This group typically includes experienced individuals who are well-versed in the standards and ethical considerations surrounding authorship in medical publications. Their role is essential in ensuring that all parties listed as authors on a manuscript meet the necessary criteria, such as substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research involved. This helps maintain the integrity of the publication process and upholds ethical standards by ensuring that credit is appropriately assigned, reflecting true contributions made by each author.

In contrast, finalizing publication dates, managing publication logistics, and editing manuscript drafts are tasks typically outside the scope of an authorship adjudication group's responsibilities. These activities are generally managed by publication teams, editors, and project managers who handle the practical aspects of getting a manuscript published. Thus, the focus of the authorship adjudication group is strictly on determining and upholding authorship standards rather than the administrative or editorial processes associated with publication.