Publication Ethics
Maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical practices
Our Commitment to Ethics
IMJSMH adheres to international publication ethics and plagiarism policies as per the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other international standards. All submissions undergo plagiarism screening to ensure originality and integrity.
Fairness
Unbiased editorial decisions based solely on merit
Confidentiality
Protecting author and reviewer anonymity
Transparency
Clear processes and open communication
Accountability
Taking responsibility for all published content
Author Responsibilities
Originality
Ensure work is original and cite all sources properly
Multiple Submission
Do not submit to multiple journals simultaneously
Authorship
Include only those who made significant contributions
Data Access
Provide data access to editors if requested
Disclosure
Declare all conflicts of interest and funding sources
Errors
Notify editor immediately if errors are discovered
Editorial Responsibilities
Fair Review
Evaluate manuscripts objectively without bias
Confidentiality
Protect manuscript confidentiality during review
Disclosure
Declare conflicts of interest and recuse when necessary
Timeliness
Make decisions in a timely and efficient manner
Corrections
Publish corrections, retractions when appropriate
Complaints
Handle complaints fairly and transparently
Research Misconduct - Zero Tolerance
Plagiarism
Copying text, ideas, or data from others without proper attribution
Examples:
- Copy-pasting without quotes
- Paraphrasing without citation
- Self-plagiarism
Data Fabrication
Making up research data, results, or manipulating images
Examples:
- Inventing data points
- Image manipulation
- Selective reporting
Falsification
Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes
Examples:
- Changing data values
- Omitting conflicting results
- Misleading analysis
How We Handle Misconduct
Investigation Process
- Allegations reviewed by editorial team
- Authors given chance to respond
- Independent investigation if necessary
- Decision made based on evidence
Possible Actions
- Immediate rejection of manuscript
- Retraction if already published
- Ban from future submissions
- Notification to institution/employer
Report Ethical Concerns
If you have concerns about ethical issues or research misconduct, please report them confidentially