The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and ensuring the integrity and quality of the research we publish. Our ethical guidelines are based on the principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and integrity, and we adhere to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal expects all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the journal’s editorial team, to follow these ethical guidelines.

This policy outlines the ethical standards required for all submissions to the journal, covering key areas such as authorship, conflicts of interest, data integrity, and peer review.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

• Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published elsewhere. Manuscripts submitted to the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports must not be under consideration by other journals.
• The journal has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, including the use of someone else's work without proper citation. The submitted manuscript will undergo plagiarism detection software checks to ensure compliance with this policy.
• If third-party content such as figures, tables, or images is included, authors must obtain the necessary permissions and provide appropriate acknowledgment.

1.2 Authorship and Contribution

• Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All co-authors must have agreed to the final version of the manuscript before submission.
• Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately, with a clear description of their contributions.
• Changes in authorship (such as adding or removing authors) after submission are discouraged but can be requested with a valid reason and consensus from all authors.

1.3 Conflict of Interest

• Authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. This includes affiliations with any organizations, institutions, or companies that may benefit financially or otherwise from the publication of the research.
• A conflict of interest statement must be included in the manuscript and disclosed during the submission process.

1.4 Data Accuracy and Integrity

• Authors must ensure that the data presented in their manuscript is accurate, complete, and reproducible. Data falsification, fabrication, or manipulation is strictly prohibited.
• Authors are encouraged to share their raw data whenever possible and must be prepared to provide the underlying data for review if requested by the journal’s editorial team or peer reviewers.
• Authors should ensure that their research complies with institutional and international ethical guidelines for studies involving human or animal subjects, including obtaining informed consent from participants.

1.5 Acknowledgment of Sources

• Proper citation and acknowledgment of other research work are mandatory. Authors must cite all sources that have influenced their research and give appropriate credit to original ideas, data, or methods from other works.
• Failure to properly acknowledge sources may be considered plagiarism and could result in the rejection of the manuscript.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

2.1 Editorial Independence

• The editors of the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports operate with full editorial independence and are responsible for making unbiased decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection based solely on the scientific merit and relevance of the submission.
• The journal’s editorial decisions are free from commercial, political, or personal influences.

2.2 Confidentiality

• The editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submissions, including the identities of authors and reviewers. Manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team, except for reviewers and those involved in the publication process.
• Editors must not use any unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research purposes without the explicit consent of the authors.

2.3 Fair and Transparent Review Process

• The journal follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure objectivity. Editors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are reviewed fairly and transparently.
• Editors are responsible for selecting appropriate reviewers with relevant expertise and ensuring that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the authors or the content of the manuscript.
• Any potential conflicts of interest or ethical concerns that arise during the review process should be addressed in a timely manner.

2.4 Handling Misconduct

• Editors are responsible for investigating any allegations of ethical misconduct, such as plagiarism, data falsification, or undeclared conflicts of interest. In cases where ethical breaches are confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including retraction, correction, or rejection of the manuscript.
• The journal follows COPE guidelines for the handling of ethical misconduct.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

3.1 Confidentiality

• Reviewers must treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. Manuscripts should not be shared or discussed with anyone outside of the peer review process, except with the editor’s permission.
• Reviewers should not use the information from the manuscript for their own research or any personal advantage.

3.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

• Reviewers must provide objective and constructive feedback on the manuscript. Criticism should be directed at the work itself, not the authors, and personal comments or attacks on the authors are not acceptable.
• Reviewers should provide clear, detailed comments and recommendations to help authors improve the quality of their work, and their feedback should be based on sound scientific judgment.

3.3 Conflict of Interest

• Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may bias their evaluation of the manuscript. If a reviewer feels unable to provide an impartial review due to personal, financial, or professional conflicts, they should inform the editor and decline the review.
• Reviewers must recuse themselves from reviewing a manuscript if they have collaborated with the authors, if they work at the same institution as the authors, or if they have any other conflict that may affect their impartiality.

3.4 Timeliness and Accountability

• Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe. If a reviewer cannot meet the deadline, they should notify the editor promptly and, if possible, suggest an alternative reviewer.
• Reviewers are encouraged to report any ethical concerns, such as suspected plagiarism or ethical misconduct, to the editor during the review process.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Journal

4.1 Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals

• The journal is committed to maintaining the scientific record's accuracy and integrity. If significant errors, ethical breaches, or misconduct are identified in published articles, the journal will issue corrections, retractions, or withdrawals, depending on the severity of the issue.
• The journal follows COPE guidelines for handling retractions and corrections to ensure transparency and accountability.

4.2 Transparency and Best Practices

• The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports is committed to transparency in all aspects of the publication process, including authorship, peer review, and the journal’s financial and ethical policies.
• The journal ensures that all articles are subjected to a rigorous peer-review process and that the decision-making process is based solely on the quality and relevance of the research.

4.3 Ethical Advertising and Sponsorship

• Any advertising or sponsorship associated with the journal is handled independently from the editorial process to prevent conflicts of interest.
• Advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial decisions, and all advertising content must comply with ethical standards and legal requirements.

5. Misconduct and Ethical Violations

5.1 Addressing Misconduct

• The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports takes allegations of research misconduct seriously. The journal follows established protocols to investigate ethical concerns, and where misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken.
• Actions may include rejection of the manuscript, retraction of published work, notifying relevant institutions, or banning the authors from future submissions to the journal.
• In cases of alleged misconduct, the journal will follow COPE guidelines to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.

Conclusion

The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. We expect all authors, editors, reviewers, and staff to adhere to these guidelines to ensure the integrity, transparency, and accountability of the research published in our journal.

By following this publication ethics policy, we aim to uphold the trust of the scientific community, provide a platform for high-quality research, and contribute to the advancement of cardiovascular medicine and science globally.