Journal of Clinical Medicine Current Research

Publication Ethics for the Journal of Clinical Medicine: Current Research

The Journal of Clinical Medicine: Current Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in research and publishing. The following policies apply to all authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process.

1. Authorship and Contributorship

• Authorship Criteria: The journal adheres to the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) guidelines. All listed authors must meet the following criteria:
  1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the study.
  2. Drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for intellectual content.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
• Acknowledgements: Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged, including technical assistance, writing support, or funding sources.
• Changes to Authorship: Requests to add, remove, or change authors must be justified and approved by all co-authors.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

• Original Work: Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original and not published or under consideration elsewhere.
• Plagiarism Screening: All submissions are screened for plagiarism using tools. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is unacceptable.
• Duplicate and Redundant Publication: Submissions with overlapping or redundant content must disclose this information. Authors must notify the journal of any prior dissemination (e.g., conference abstracts).
• Consequences of Plagiarism: Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism or redundant content will be rejected. Published articles involving plagiarism will be retracted, and the authors' institutions may be notified.

3. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

• Human and Animal Research:
  • All studies involving human participants must include Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee approval. The study must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki.
  • Animal studies must adhere to national or international ethical guidelines for the care and use of animals.
• Informed Consent:
  • Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants, including for the publication of identifiable information (e.g., images, case reports).
  • Authors must state that consent was obtained in the manuscript.
• Patient Confidentiality:
  • Identifiable patient information must not be published unless explicit consent has been obtained. Anonymization of data is mandatory.

4. Data Integrity and Transparency

• Data Fabrication and Falsification: The journal prohibits fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data. Such misconduct will lead to rejection or retraction.
• Data Availability:
  • Authors must provide a Data Availability Statement outlining how the study data can be accessed or shared.
  • Authors may be required to submit raw data for verification during the review process.
• Image Manipulation: Images, figures, or micrographs must not be manipulated to misrepresent data. Necessary adjustments (e.g., brightness) must be disclosed and applied consistently.

5. Conflicts of Interest

• Disclosure of Conflicts: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could influence their work. Examples include:
  • Funding sources.
  • Employment or affiliations.
  • Financial relationships with organizations or individuals.
• Conflict Management:
  • If conflicts are identified, the journal may request additional clarifications or take steps to mitigate bias.

6. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Submit work that is original, accurate, and free of misconduct.
• Properly cite and acknowledge prior research, data, or ideas.
• Obtain necessary permissions for reproduced or adapted content.
• Cooperate fully during the peer review process and respond to comments constructively.
• Notify the editors promptly if errors are discovered after submission or publication.

7. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in upholding publication integrity and are expected to:

• Maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript and its contents.
• Provide objective, unbiased, and constructive feedback.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review if necessary.
• Report any ethical concerns (e.g., plagiarism, duplication, unethical research practices).

8. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must:

• Ensure fair, transparent, and timely peer review.
• Uphold ethical standards by investigating allegations of misconduct.
• Maintain confidentiality of submitted work.
• Manage conflicts of interest transparently.
• Issue corrections, retractions, or editorial expressions of concern when necessary.

9. Allegations of Misconduct

The journal follows COPE guidelines for handling ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct, including:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Duplicate submission or publication
• Authorship disputes
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Process:

1. Allegations are investigated by the editorial team.
2. Authors are given an opportunity to respond.
3. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions are taken, including:
   • Rejection or retraction of the article.
   • Notification to authors’ institutions or funding bodies.
   • Possible bans on future submissions.

10. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

• Corrections: Minor errors that do not affect the results will be corrected via an erratum.
• Retractions: Articles with significant ethical or scientific issues will be retracted. The retraction notice will state the reason and maintain transparency.
• Expressions of Concern: If misconduct is suspected but not fully resolved, the journal may issue an expression of concern pending investigation.

11. Appeals and Complaints

• Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing a detailed rationale and evidence. Appeals are reviewed by the editorial board.
• Complaints regarding editorial processes, conflicts, or ethical concerns can be directed to the journal’s ethics committee.

By adhering to these ethical guidelines, the Journal of Clinical Medicine: Current Research strives to maintain the integrity, transparency, and trustworthiness of published research.