Publication Ethics

Journal Information

Contents

Publication Ethics

Annals of Medical and Health Research: An International Journal

Annals of Medical and Health Research is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing, transparency, and academic integrity in medicine, healthcare, and clinical sciences. The journal strictly follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure fairness, accountability, and responsible scholarly communication.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, unethical clinical practices, duplicate submissions, and any form of scientific or academic misconduct.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal must:

  • Ensure all submissions are original, accurate, and free from plagiarism.
  • Acknowledge all sources, references, and contributions appropriately.
  • Avoid submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence research interpretation.
  • Confirm that all listed co-authors have made meaningful contributions and approve the final manuscript.

Follow ethical standards for studies involving:

  • Human participants (with IRB/IEC approval and informed consent)
  • Animals (with institutional animal ethics approval)
  • Clinical data, patient records, biological materials, or sensitive medical information
  • Provide required ethical clearance documentation when applicable.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining scientific quality. They are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and confidential evaluations.
  • Review manuscripts without discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, religion, seniority, or institutional affiliation.
  • Avoid using manuscript content for personal or professional advantage.
  • Declare conflicts of interest that may hinder impartial judgment.
  • Report any suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, unethical methodology, or duplicate publication to the Editorial Office.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The Editorial Board, led by the Editor-in-Chief, ensures:

  • Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scientific merit, originality, clinical relevance, and contribution to medical knowledge.
  • A fair, unbiased, and confidential peer review process is maintained.
  • Editorial decisions are free from conflicts of interest or external influence.
  • Allegations of misconduct are investigated ethically, promptly, and transparently.
  • Retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern are issued when required to maintain the integrity of published literature.

4. Research Misconduct & Handling Procedures

The journal considers the following practices unethical:

  • Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism)
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Manipulation of clinical images, diagnostic results, or patient data
  • Duplicate submission or redundant publication
  • Gift, ghost, or honorary authorship
  • Failure to obtain appropriate ethical approvals

Procedure for Handling Misconduct:

  • The Editorial Office conducts an initial assessment and contacts the authors for clarification.
  • If misconduct is confirmed, actions may include:
  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Removal from peer review
  • Retraction of a published article
  • Issuance of a correction or expression of concern

In serious cases, the journal may notify:

  • Authors’ institutions
  • Funding agencies
  • Regulatory or ethics bodies

5. Transparency and Accountability

The journal promotes transparency in all stages of research and publication:

  • All manuscripts undergo thorough ethical, editorial, and technical checks.
  • Any required corrections, clarifications, or retractions will be issued promptly in accordance with COPE protocols.
  • Authors are expected to maintain accurate records of clinical data and research methods and provide them upon request.

6. Compliance with COPE Guidelines

The journal fully adheres to the COPE Code of Conduct for editors, reviewers, and authors.
More information is available at: https://publicationethics.org