Editorial Policy

The Medical Journal of Oncology (MJO) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and independence. All editorial decisions are guided by the principles of fairness, objectivity, and scientific merit, without influence from financial, institutional, or personal interests.

MJO follows the best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

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1. Editorial Independence

• All decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection are made solely on the basis of the manuscript’s scientific quality, originality, relevance, and ethical standards.

• Editorial decisions are not influenced by sponsors, advertisers, or institutional affiliations.

• Editors may publish their own work in MJO, but such manuscripts will be handled by an independent editor to ensure fairness.

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2. Editorial Board Responsibilities

The Editorial Board is responsible for:

• Defining the journal’s aims and scope and maintaining its academic standards.

• Ensuring fair and unbiased peer review.

• Promoting diversity and inclusion by engaging authors, reviewers, and board members from different regions and backgrounds.

• Taking prompt action on ethical concerns, misconduct, or conflicts of interest, in line with COPE guidelines.

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3. Editorial Decision-Making

• Manuscripts undergo initial screening by the Editorial Office for compliance with scope, formatting, and ethical standards.

• Submissions passing screening are assigned to an Associate Editor or Section Editor, who oversees the peer review process.

• Final decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief (or delegated senior editor) after considering reviewer feedback.

• Decisions are categorized as:

  • Accept

  • Minor Revision

  • Major Revision

  • Reject

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4. Confidentiality

• Editors must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.

• Information from submitted manuscripts may not be shared with anyone outside the review and editorial process.

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5. Conflict of Interest

• Editors must declare any conflicts of interest (e.g., financial ties, personal relationships, institutional affiliations).

• Editors with conflicts will recuse themselves from handling affected manuscripts.

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6. Handling of Misconduct

• If misconduct (plagiarism, falsification, duplicate submission, unethical research) is suspected, editors will follow COPE flowcharts for investigation.

• Outcomes may include rejection, correction, retraction, or notification of institutions/funding agencies.

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7. Transparency in Corrections and Retractions

• Corrections will be issued for minor errors that do not affect the study’s validity.

• Retractions will be issued in cases of proven misconduct, major errors, or ethical violations.

• Expressions of concern may be published while investigations are ongoing.

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8. Editorial Timelines

MJO strives for efficiency and transparency in handling manuscripts:

• Initial decision (desk review): 1–2 weeks

• Peer review: 3–6 weeks

• First editorial decision: 6–8 weeks from submission

• Final decision after revision: 2–3 weeks

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9. Appeals and Complaints

• Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a written justification.

• Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, an independent editorial board member.

• Complaints regarding editorial conduct will be handled confidentially and fairly, in accordance with COPE guidelines.