Publication Ethics
Editorial and Ethics Policies
Editorial Policies
The International Journal of Clinical and Scientific Medical Research (IJCSMR) upholds the highest ethical standards for authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the research, submission, and peer-review processes. The journal employs a rigorous double-blind peer review to ensure impartial evaluation.
Author Responsibilities and Vanishing Authors
Authors are expected to maintain communication after article submission. If authors become unresponsive and fail to engage with the editorial process, the journal reserves the right to either proceed with publication or to withhold it. The journal will make repeated efforts to contact authors prior to concluding their absence. Should an author issue a formal apology for the lack of response, the journal may consider retracting the article, including cases involving retrospective publications or manuscripts rejected due to author non-response. Authors are encouraged to notify the editorial office if they choose not to proceed with publication to avoid unnecessary expenditure of editorial resources.
Redundant or Duplicate Publication
Duplicate or redundant publication involves the publication or submission of manuscripts that substantially overlap or replicate content published, in press, or under consideration elsewhere. The journal adheres to the guidelines provided by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the American Psychological Association (APA), which consider such submissions unethical. Manuscripts must be original and not simultaneously submitted to multiple journals. If material published elsewhere is reused, authors must obtain prior permission from the original copyright holder and transparently acknowledge the source to correct any potential ethical violations.
Conflicts of Interest
Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest is critical to maintain research integrity. Authors must disclose any financial interests, collaborations, or funding sources that could be perceived to influence the reported findings, opinions, or interpretations. Such disclosures should be made at the time of submission, and any relevant conflict of interest statements will be published alongside accepted manuscripts.
Permissions to Reproduce Previously Published Material
Authors must secure explicit permission from copyright holders before reproducing any previously published material in their submissions. The journal will not publish content lacking these permissions.
Article Withdrawal
The journal is committed to maintaining the originality and authenticity of its publications. Manuscripts in press may be withdrawn if technical or ethical concerns arise, such as multiple submissions of the same data, plagiarism, data manipulation, or questionable authorship claims. Withdrawn articles are immediately removed from the website with a formal withdrawal notice issued.
Retraction of Published Articles
Published articles may be retracted by authors, affiliated institutions, funding agencies, or the journal’s editorial team upon identification of ethical breaches such as plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate publication, or authorship misconduct. The journal discusses potential retractions with the involved authors and issues a signed retraction notice in a subsequent journal issue to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
Patient Consent Forms
Protecting patient privacy is paramount. Authors must obtain and retain written informed consent from patients when identifiable information or images are included in a manuscript. This consent must explicitly cover publication of such materials and be disclosed within the Methods section. Editors may request copies of these consent forms during the review process.
Ethics Committee Approval
Manuscripts involving original data from human or animal subjects must include a statement affirming approval by a recognized ethics committee. This should specify the name of the committee, address, protocol number, and date of approval. Human studies require documented informed consent from participants, complying with the Declaration of Helsinki. Animal research must adhere to recognized standards such as the ARRIVE guidelines. If ethical approval was not required or deviated from standard protocols, authors must provide justification. Editors may request evidence of ethical clearance, including approvals from National Drug Agencies or equivalent bodies when applicable.