A medical journal editor receives two manuscripts. The two authors of one of the papers are principal investigators well known in their field. The editor doesn't know the two authors of the other paper but recalls that one was a postdoctoral fellow presenting an award-winning paper at the latest meeting of the discipline's most prestigious society. All four authors appear to be co-investigators reporting on the same research study, but the principal investigators reach different conclusions from the authors of the other paper about the selected data.

The authors of each paper indicate that their opposite co-investigators have been asked to be a co-author, but each of the opposite co-investigators has declined, preferring their own interpretation of the results of their mutual study.

QUESTIONS:

1. Should the institution be asked to recommend that one or the other paper be withdrawn?
   
   
2. Should the institution be asked to determine whether the data are accurately represented in both papers?
   
   
3. Should both manuscripts be reviewed?
   
   
4. If yes, should the same or different reviewers be used?
   
   
5. Should a journal editor ever consider publication of alternative interpretations by a co-investigator?