Publication Ethics and Malpractice State

Ethical guidelines for Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion

The Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion (JCMRO) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to ethical practices in accordance with internationally accepted guidelines.

This journal follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and relevant ethical standards such as the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human subjects.

The publisher ensures that editorial decisions are independent and are not influenced by commercial considerations, including advertising revenue or article processing charges (APCs).

1. Duties of Authors

1.1 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to:

  • Conceptualization and design of the study

  • Data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation

  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript

All authors must approve the final version and agree to be accountable for the work. Changes in authorship after submission require written consent from all authors.

1.2 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using similarity detection software. Any form of plagiarism, including duplicate publication, will result in rejection.

1.3 Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest, including:

  • Funding, employment, consultancies

  • Stock ownership or patents

  • Personal or institutional relationships

If no conflict exists, authors should state:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

1.4 Funding Disclosure

All sources of financial support must be clearly stated in the manuscript. The role of the funding agency in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication must also be disclosed.

1.5 Data Access and Integrity

Authors must ensure the accuracy and integrity of data. The corresponding author is responsible for confirming that all data are authentic and available for review if requested.

1.6 Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

  • Research involving humans or animals must receive prior approval from an institutional ethics committee.

  • Informed consent must be obtained from human participants.

  • A statement confirming ethical approval must be included in the manuscript.

1.7 Acknowledgments

Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged. Written permission must be obtained from all individuals listed.

 2. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair and unbiased review process.

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of the manuscript.

  • Editors must maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

  • Editors must not use unpublished material for personal research without consent.

  • Editors must disclose and avoid conflicts of interest.

  • Editors will take appropriate action in cases of ethical misconduct.

3. Duties of Reviewers

JCMRO follows a double-blind peer review process.

Reviewers must:

  • Accept reviews only within their expertise

  • Maintain strict confidentiality

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback

  • Declare conflicts of interest and decline review if necessary

  • Avoid personal criticism and focus on scientific content

4. Peer Review Process

  • All submissions undergo initial editorial screening

  • Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two independent reviewers

  • The review process is double-blind

  • Final decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief

5. Publication Misconduct

The journal does not tolerate:

  • Plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Duplicate publication

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines.

6. Corrections and Retractions

  • Errors may be corrected via corrigendum or erratum

  • Serious ethical violations may result in retraction

  • Retraction notices will be clearly linked to the original article

7. Editorial Independence

The editorial board operates independently. Decisions are not influenced by:

  • Advertising

  • Sponsorship

  • Article processing charges (APCs)

Payment of APCs does not guarantee acceptance.

8. Confidentiality

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information is not shared outside the editorial and review process.

9. Data and Image Integrity

Authors must not manipulate images or data in a misleading way. Any adjustments must be clearly disclosed.