Ethics and Policies
Ethics Declaration for the Journal of Surgery and Medical Case Reports:
We pledge to uphold the utmost ethical standards throughout every phase of our publication process at the Journal of Surgery and Medical Case Reports. We expect authors, reviewers, editors, and our editorial team to strictly adhere to the outlined ethical guidelines:
- Authorship and Contribution: All individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported work should be listed as authors. Honorary authorship is discouraged. Authors should also disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the interpretation of their work.
- Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is considered unethical and unacceptable.
- Data Integrity and Transparency: Authors should accurately present their research findings and provide sufficient detail and supporting data to allow others to replicate the study. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is prohibited.
- Informed Consent: Authors must ensure that informed consent has been obtained from patients or their legal guardians for the publication of case details, including clinical photographs or other identifiable information. Patient anonymity must be preserved unless explicit written consent for publication has been obtained.
- Patient Confidentiality: Authors should respect patient confidentiality at all times. Identifying information, such as names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be included in the manuscript unless essential for clinical reasons, and written consent for publication has been obtained.
- Animal Welfare: Research involving animals must comply with internationally accepted guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals. Authors should provide details of the ethical approval obtained from relevant institutional or governmental authorities.
- Conflicts of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their judgment or objectivity in the publication process. Conflicts of interest may include financial interests, professional affiliations, or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the work.
- Peer Review: The journal operates a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. Reviewers are expected to conduct their evaluations objectively and provide constructive feedback to authors.
- Editorial Independence: Editors and editorial board members should exercise editorial independence and impartiality in their decision-making process. They should base their decisions solely on the quality, relevance, and originality of the manuscript, regardless of authors' affiliations or other considerations.
By adhering to these ethical principles, the Journal of Surgery and Medical Case Reports seeks to maintain the integrity, trustworthiness, and credibility of the scientific literature and fulfil its responsibility to the research community and society at large.
