Publication Ethics

The Journal of Biological and Medical Innovations (JBMI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in the publication process. We aim to ensure the integrity and transparency of our peer-reviewed journal by upholding ethical guidelines that govern manuscript submission, review, and publication. This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the editorial board to ensure that the journal operates with professionalism and adheres to established ethical standards.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit original manuscripts and avoid plagiarism in any form. Any use of previously published work must be properly cited and acknowledged. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously (i.e., no duplicate submission) or reuse material from their own previously published work without proper citation (i.e., self-plagiarism).

• Authorship and Contributions: All individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be included as authors. Authors should ensure that all co-authors approve the manuscript and agree with the order of authorship. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors are aware of the final version of the manuscript and that they agree to its submission.

• Data Integrity and Reproducibility: Authors must ensure the integrity of the research data. Data should be presented accurately, without fabrication or manipulation, and must be available for verification upon request. Any changes in the research findings, such as corrections or retractions, should be promptly communicated to the editorial team.

• Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that may affect the manuscript. This includes funding sources, potential relationships with organizations, or any other relevant interests. Conflicts of interest should be clearly stated in the manuscript at the time of submission.

• Ethical Approval: For research involving human participants or animals, authors must ensure that the study has been approved by an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB). Authors must provide a statement of ethical approval and describe how informed consent was obtained from participants, where applicable.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep the manuscript and its content confidential. They should not share or discuss the manuscript with others and should not use the knowledge obtained from the manuscript for personal or professional gain.

• Impartiality: Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, based on the scientific merit of the research, without bias towards the authors’ identities, affiliations, or personal relationships. Reviewers should recuse themselves if they have a conflict of interest with the authors or the manuscript.

• Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive, clear, and professional feedback on the manuscript. Their comments should be aimed at improving the quality of the manuscript, identifying any flaws, and providing suggestions for revision where necessary. Reviewers should avoid personal criticisms of the authors.

• Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their evaluations within the timeframe set by the journal, usually 4-6 weeks. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review within the deadline, they should notify the editorial office and recuse themselves from the review process.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

• Fairness and Transparency: Editors are responsible for ensuring that the review process is fair, transparent, and free from bias. Decisions to accept or reject manuscripts should be based solely on the scientific merit of the research and its relevance to the journal’s scope.

• Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality about manuscripts under consideration. They should not disclose any information about the manuscript or its review process to others except to the reviewers and the editorial team.

• Conflict of Interest: Editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a personal, professional, or financial interest. Editors should ensure that no conflicts of interest influence their editorial decisions.

• Ethical Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for investigating ethical issues raised during the review process. If a manuscript is suspected of containing unethical practices, such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or failure to obtain ethical approval, the editor must follow the procedures outlined by COPE for handling such issues.

• Handling Complaints and Appeals: Editors must handle any complaints or appeals from authors regarding the review or editorial decision process. Authors have the right to appeal a decision, and editors must ensure that the appeal is reviewed fairly and transparently.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Editorial Board:

• Oversight of Journal Policies: The editorial board is responsible for ensuring that the journal adheres to ethical guidelines, maintains high editorial standards, and regularly reviews and updates the Publication Ethics Policy as needed. The board also ensures that authors, reviewers, and editors are aware of their ethical obligations.

• Monitoring Publication Practices: The editorial board ensures that all articles published in JBMI meet ethical guidelines, particularly those related to authorship, data integrity, conflict of interest, and research ethics. They are responsible for overseeing the journal's editorial practices to ensure that ethical standards are upheld at all stages of publication.

• Retractions and Corrections: The editorial board is responsible for managing the retraction of articles if they are found to violate ethical standards or if serious errors are identified. The editorial board also oversees the process for issuing corrections or clarifications when necessary, in line with COPE guidelines.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher:

• Support for Ethical Publishing: The publisher must support the ethical guidelines and practices of the journal, ensuring that the editorial team has the resources and tools needed to follow these standards. The publisher must also ensure that the journal’s content is disseminated in compliance with copyright laws and open-access standards.

• Transparency in Operations: The publisher should ensure that the journal’s operations, including publication fees, peer review procedures, and ethical considerations, are transparent to all stakeholders. Any financial arrangements, such as funding sources or article processing charges, must be disclosed clearly.

6. Handling Ethical Violations:

• Allegations of Misconduct: Any allegations of ethical violations, such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical breaches, will be investigated thoroughly by the editorial team, in accordance with COPE guidelines. The journal will take appropriate action, which may include retracting or correcting articles, banning authors from future submissions, or notifying relevant authorities, if necessary.

• Retraction Policy: If a published article is found to contain significant ethical violations or errors, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be issued to inform readers and provide a clear explanation for the retraction.

7. Publication Ethics and COPE Compliance:

JBMI follows the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines ensure that the journal adheres to international standards in academic publishing, maintains transparency, and protects the integrity of the research published.