Two gynecologists from Fujian Provincial People's Hospital have been punished for research misconduct related to a controversial paper on endometriosis, as announced by the hospital on Wednesday.

The paper, which examined the efficacy of laparoscopy combined with GnRH-a in treating infertile patients with severe endometriosis, raised doubts on its validity due to the unusual gender ratio of its patient data. Endometriosis usually affects females, especially those of reproductive age.

While in the paper, out of the 100 collected patient samples, 64 were male, sparking heated discussion.

An investigation by the hospital confirmed the research misconduct, leading to the disciplinary actions against the authors.

Han Chunlong, the first author, has been demoted and barred from applying for research projects and science awards for three years. While Wang Xiaohong, the second author, also received similar restrictions for two years.

"The error in the study is ridiculous," commented one netizen. Others argued that "other individuals involved should also be held accountable."