Anaesthesiology
Yoshitaka Fujii: Fabricated anaesthesia trials, 1993 to 2011
Toho University (earlier other Japanese institutions)
Misconduct found Dismissed by Toho University in February 2012, and a Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists committee found in June 2012 that he fabricated data in 172 papers.1,4
Papers
| Paper | Action | Date | Reason stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 172 papers found to contain fabricated data, published between 1993 and 2011 Multiple anaesthesia and medical journals, 1993 to 2011 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-013-9941-71,2,3 | Retracted | 2012 onward | Journal notices followed the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists findings. A 2013 Canadian Journal of Anesthesia notice cites overwhelming evidence of fabrication and says his institution could not attest to the integrity of the study or data. Retraction Watch listed him with 172 retractions in July 2026. |
Investigations
- Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists investigation committee, 29 June 2012The committee, chaired by Koji Sumikawa and formed after editors of 23 journals asked Japanese institutions to investigate, concluded he fabricated data in 172 of 212 papers published between 1993 and 2011, 126 of them randomised controlled trials. It found no evidence of fraud in three and could not determine the reliability of 37, according to Retraction Watch and PRI The World.1,4
- Toho University, February 2012Dismissed him from his post, according to Retraction Watch.1
Sources
- Retraction Watch, Does anesthesiology have a problem? Final version of report suggests Fujii will take retraction record, with 172 (2 July 2012)
- Retraction Watch, Now, 240: More than a decade later, journals are still retracting Joachim Boldt's papers (15 July 2026)
- Canadian Journal of Anesthesia (Springer), Retraction Note (flurbiprofen axetil and venous occlusion study) (25 April 2013)
- PRI The World, Japanese scientist fabricated 172 papers over 19 years (4 July 2012)