STM publisher Elsevier, Netherlands, recently dismissed Bruce Charlton, editor of the controversial journal Medical Hypotheses, for refusing to revamp review procedures at the journal. According to William Bains, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board and one of Charlton's staunchest defenders, a majority of the 19-member Editorial Advisory Board also seem set to quit. Elsevier has already started a search for a replacement editor. The publisher also plans to implement a system of peer review, which the journal has never had.
Medical Hypotheses is currently the only Elsevier journal that does not have a system of peer-review. The editor-in-chief reportedly decides what gets published, and the manuscripts are edited only very lightly. The journal faced criticism after AIDS researchers protested about an article by AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg. The paper, previously rejected by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, asserts that HIV does not cause AIDS and that medical statistics and demographical data do not support the existence of a massive AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
Elsevier permanently retracted the paper. The publisher also gave Charlton an ultimatum to implement a series of changes in his editorial policy, including introducing a system of peer-review, or resign. Last week, Charlton received a letter terminating his contract.
In response, three members of the Editorial Advisory Board have already announced their decision to step down, and three others have said they will do so.
According to Elsevier spokesperson Tom Reller, the exodus isn't entirely unexpected. In a recent letter to board members, the company had mentioned that it would go ahead with the policy changes and had asked those who disagreed to step down.
