Ethical Policy for Publications

 

Ethical Policy sets forth the principles and guidelines that authors, reviewers, and editors must follow to ensure the integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct of all submissions and publications in our medical journal. Adherence to ethical standards is essential to maintaining trust within the scientific and medical communities.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Submit only original and previously unpublished work that accurately reflects their research.
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest, funding sources, or affiliations that could influence the research or its interpretation.
• Ensure that all authors listed on the manuscript have significantly contributed to the research and agree to the submission.
• Obtain informed consent from all participants in studies involving human subjects and comply with institutional and international ethical guidelines.
• Secure permissions for using copyrighted material and appropriately credit all contributors and sources.
• Report research findings honestly and avoid data fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of the journal and are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback on submitted manuscripts.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding the content and authorship of submissions.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest that might compromise their ability to provide an unbiased review.
• Refrain from using information obtained during the review process for personal or professional advantage.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

• Ensuring the integrity of the review and publication processes.
• Making unbiased decisions based on the scientific merit and ethical compliance of submissions.
• Addressing ethical concerns and allegations of misconduct promptly and transparently.
• Protecting the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and the review process.

Ethical Standards for Research Involving Humans and Animals

Authors must ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, including:

• Obtaining approval from institutional review boards or ethics committees for studies involving human subjects.
• Adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki or equivalent ethical standards.
• Following national and institutional guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.

Addressing misconduct: Any allegations of ethical misconduct, including data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or undisclosed conflicts of interest, will be thoroughly investigated. The journal may take the following actions:

• Informing the authors' institutions or funding agencies.
• Issuing corrections, retractions, or editorial expressions of concern as appropriate.
• Restricting future submissions from authors found to have committed misconduct.

Transparency and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence the content or assessment of a submission. The journal will publish conflict of interest disclosures to maintain transparency.

Post-Publication Ethical Concerns The journal is committed to addressing ethical issues that arise after publication. Readers or other stakeholders who identify concerns should contact the editorial office. The journal will investigate and, if necessary, issue corrections, retractions, or clarifications.

Education and Awareness The journal will promote ethical publishing practices by providing resources, training, and guidance to authors, reviewers, and editors. Authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the ethical standards outlined in this Policy.

Acknowledgment of Policy By submitting to the journal, authors, reviewers, and editors agree to abide by this Ethical Policy. This Policy may be updated periodically to reflect evolving ethical standards and best practices.

This Ethical Policy is designed to uphold the highest integrity, fairness, and accountability standards in medical research and publishing.