by Andy » Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:29 pm
Paul, I completely see where you are coming from. In my mind, it's less a question of ethical v. unethical and more a situation where you don't want anyone to question your integrity.
A first author paper is better than a shared first author paper. So if you just list your name first (even though you are second) WITHOUT indicating by asterisk that it was a shared first author paper, then you are misrepresenting the contributions of the "first first author." It's not consistent to say that (1) I am listing my name first because it was a co-first author paper, and (2) I'm not going to indicate that it was a shared first author paper.
If you are a "second first author" and you list your name first WITHOUT indicating co-authorship, you are misrepresnting reality. I think it might be acceptable to some people to list your name first while at the same time indicating the co-authorship. However, like I'll say for the last time I promise, you should play it safe and leave it alone. Why give anyone a reason to question you?
Andy