Editorial ethics and authorship
Professional editorial support is legitimate and common. It becomes a problem when it's hidden.
My position:
Disclosure
Where I’ve contributed substantially to drafting a manuscript, that contribution should be disclosed. That normally means naming me in the acknowledgements, along with the nature of the assistance. This follows ICMJE recommendations and is accepted practice at every journal I’m aware of. I’ll help you word it.
Authorship
I don’t seek authorship, and editorial assistance alone doesn’t meet ICMJE authorship criteria. If a project ever developed to the point where it did, we’d discuss it openly.
What I don’t do
I don’t guarantee outcomes, I don’t have influence over decisions at any journal, and I won’t help you present work as more than it is. I’m not able to advise on manuscripts I handled during my time at Science Immunology, and I won’t take work that puts me in conflict with a journal I’ve worked for.
I won’t fabricate, alter or reinterpret data, write a paper whose conclusions the data don’t support, or produce work for undisclosed use where disclosure is required.
Conflicts of interest
I don’t advise on manuscripts I handled as an editor, and I’ll decline anything where I have a conflict, including work that would put me opposite a former colleague’s decision. If a conflict emerges partway through, I’ll tell you and refund unbilled work.
Your data
Manuscripts and data are held confidentially, not shared, and deleted on request after the project closes.