Scientific Misconduct in the 21st Century: A Systematic Review of Retractions in Biomedical Journals

The integrity of biomedical research is increasingly challenged by a concerning rise in article retractions, which serve as critical indicators of both procedural errors and deliberate misconduct. This systematic review investigates 13,834 retracted publications in biomedical journals between 2010 and 2025, analyzing temporal trends, misconduct categories, and editorial responses. The review protocol was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF) to ensure methodological transparency. Data were sourced exclusively from the Retraction Watch database, which provides the most comprehensive and continuously updated repository of retractions across biomedical journals. Eligible articles included original research publications with clearly stated retraction reasons, excluding editorials, corrections, and non‑biomedical content.Our findings reveal a sustained increase in retractions, peaking at 2,300 in 2023, largely driven by fabrication, plagiarism, and falsification, though a notable proportion stemmed from honest errors. We also identify inconsistencies in retraction notices and gaps in editorial transparency, particularly linked to paper mills and fake peer review. These results underscore the urgent need for stronger oversight mechanisms, enhanced peer‑review protocols, and improved metadata reporting. By quantifying misconduct patterns and highlighting systemic vulnerabilities, this review contributes to global efforts to reinforce research accountability and preserve the credibility of the scientific record.