In medical publications, just as in research and development, quality depends on the expertise and integrity of researchers/authors as well as qualified peer reviewers and journal editors. However, the laborious and time-consuming process of the traditional peer review1 can be compromised by the pressure to publish quickly – particularly during a health crisis, when timely distribution of credible medical information can make a substantial difference.2 Recent examples of negative consequences are two articles on COVID19 that were hastily published in high-profile medical journals and subsequently retracted.3,4

Traditional peer review, although not perfect, remains the most frequently used process for vetting scientific publications. However, it has become more common for manuscripts to be released without prior review, which raises new concerns