Policies

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

1. Introduction

This journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. It adheres to the principles and best practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). The following statement outlines our core ethical policies regarding authorship, editorial responsibility, peer review, conflicts of interest, and handling of misconduct.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

2.1 Authorship and Contributions

All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the work.
Authors should meet all four ICMJE criteria for authorship.
Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

2.2 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original work. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is unethical and unacceptable.
The journal uses plagiarism detection tools to screen manuscripts prior to review.

2.3 Data Integrity and Availability

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of data presented and must retain raw data for verification when needed.
Data must be presented honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.

2.4 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose all financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research.
All funding sources must be clearly stated.

2.5 Ethical Approvals

Studies involving human or animal subjects must include approval from an appropriate ethics committee and informed consent documentation, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Clinical trial registration is required as per ICMJE recommendations.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

3.1 Editorial Independence and Decision-Making

Editors are responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles.
Decisions must be based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit and relevance, and not influenced by personal, financial, or institutional interests.

3.2 Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than corresponding authors, reviewers, and the publisher.

3.3 Conflict of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from decisions if they have conflicts of interest with the manuscript or authors.

3.4 Handling Misconduct

Editors will act upon any allegations of ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, and data fabrication, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

4.1 Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat the manuscript as confidential and not share or discuss it with others.

4.2 Objectivity and Timeliness

Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback and without personal criticism.
Reviewers should respond promptly and inform the editor if they cannot complete a review within the stipulated time.

4.3 Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify any relevant published work not cited by the authors and notify the editor of any suspected ethical concerns.

4.4 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review if necessary.

5. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher ensures that ethical publishing practices are followed and supports editors and authors in addressing ethical issues.
Retractions or corrections will be issued when necessary, following COPE recommendations.

6. Allegations of Misconduct

The journal will follow COPE's flowcharts in investigating allegations of misconduct.
Authors will be given an opportunity to respond to allegations.
Proven misconduct may result in rejection or retraction of the article, and notification to institutional authorities.

7. Retraction, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

The journal will issue retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern as needed, based on the severity and nature of the issue, consistent with COPE guidance.

8. Archiving and Access