Google Scholar notified me this morning that I had a new paper in my profile, which I was not expecting. The work in question was published by a collection of former colleagues and regards work done a few years ago. I participated in the early stages of the work, but I have no recollection of having seen the manuscript before it was submitted or at any time during the revision process.
Additional relevant facts:
The journal shows the paper as having been submitted over two years ago, when I was still working for the research group the authors belong to. Two years is a long time, and I no longer have access to my email from that institution. So, if I pursue the matter the first step is obviously to ask the corresponding author if they have any record of my having approved the manuscript before submission. Note, however, that the paper has a contributor roles taxonomy (CRediT) statement, and I am not listed as having any writing, review, or editing role, which would be highly irregular if I had agreed to be on the paper.
I left the group over a year ago due to a hostile and abusive work environment created largely by some, but not all, of the authors on the paper. At the time, I informed them and the management of the host institution that I did not wish to be included on any further papers coming from that research group.
A few months ago I received an enquiry about a paper that in retrospect must have been this one. The enquiry was from a colleague that I have remained on good terms with (and who isn't one of the authors of the paper). They informed me that some former coworkers were revising a paper that I was a coauthor on and wanted to know what my current affiliation was. I reiterated my request not to appear on any further papers from the group (the go-between did not mention that the paper had been submitted before I left). I also reminded them that listing someone as a coauthor without their approval is highly unethical.
The journal shows the paper as having been revised and accepted earlier this month. My name appears with my new institutional affiliation, which suggests to me that they were aware of my conversation with the go-between, though they could have tracked it down from other publications.
I am torn on whether I should try to get this rectified. On the one hand, making someone a coauthor without their approval is not ok, and the group shouldn't be allowed to get away with such cavalier disregard for the rules. On the other hand, having my name on the paper isn't really causing me any material harm, and making an issue of it will likely dredge up old animosities that, frankly, took a long time to properly bury, so maybe it's best to drop it.
With all of this in mind, my question is, should I pursue this matter, or just let it go. If the former, how should I go about it (assuming I don't get a satisfactory response from the corresponding author)? If the latter, is there any potential for harm (i.e., from having my name on the paper) that I'm not seeing?
