Publication Ethics

Rokhan Medical Science Journal (RMSJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in all stages of the publication process. We strictly follow the internationally recognized principles and best practices for scholarly publishing, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

This ethics statement outlines the responsibilities and expected ethical behavior of all participants in the publishing process: authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Ethics for Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to RMSJ must comply with the following ethical standards:

1.1. Originality and Plagiarism

Submitted work must be original and unpublished. Authors must properly cite all sources and ensure that any reused content is acknowledged.

Plagiarism must not exceed 20%, including self-plagiarism and AI.

Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and will result in immediate rejection or retraction.

1.2. Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors.

All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

Guest, honorary, or gift authorship is not permitted.

1.3. Data Integrity

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the data presented in their manuscript.

Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.

Authors should retain raw data and be ready to provide it upon request during the review process.

1.4. Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants or animals must have been reviewed and approved by an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB).

All such approvals must be clearly stated in the manuscript.

Informed consent must be obtained when applicable.

1.5. Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, political, or personal relationships that may bias their research or influence the editorial decision.
Examples include:

Stock ownership

Paid consultancies

Patent applications

Organizational affiliations

1.6. Acknowledgement of Sources

All sources of information, funding, and support must be acknowledged properly.

Authors should cite all publications that influenced the reported work.

Proper citation reflects intellectual integrity and academic transparency.

1.7. Redundant or Multiple Submissions

Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is unethical.

Authors must not republish or submit overlapping content to different journals without appropriate justification and prior agreement from all parties.

1.8. Corrections and Retractions

Authors are obliged to notify the editor if they discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work.

Corrections, retractions, or re-publications will be issued as needed.

Authors are permitted up to three revisions after publication if errors are identified.

2. Ethics for Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a critical role in upholding the quality and credibility of RMSJ. Reviewers are expected to follow these ethical standards:

2.1. Contribution to Editorial Process

Reviewers assist editors in evaluating submissions by providing honest, objective, and constructive feedback.

If a reviewer is not qualified or cannot complete the review on time, they should decline the invitation.

2.2. Confidentiality

All information related to submitted manuscripts must be treated as confidential.

Reviewers must not share or discuss manuscripts with others without editor permission.

It is prohibited to use any part of the manuscript for personal gain.

2.3. Objectivity and Fairness

Reviews must be objective, unbiased, and respectful.

Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.

Reviewers must evaluate the manuscript solely based on its content and merit.

2.4. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest and excuse themselves if they have a personal or financial interest in the work.

Examples include being a collaborator, competitor, or having personal ties to the author.

2.5. Identification of Ethical Issues

Reviewers are expected to report suspected ethical violations, such as:

Plagiarism

Data fabrication

Unethical research practices

Undisclosed conflicts of interest

2.6. Scientific Integrity and Development

Reviewers contribute to preserving scientific standards and journal integrity.

Feedback should help authors improve their work and reviewers are encouraged to develop professionally through the review process.

3. Ethics for Editors

Editors are responsible for overseeing the entire publication process and ensuring ethical compliance at all stages.

3.1. Fairness and Impartiality

Editors must evaluate manuscripts for content and scientific merit alone, regardless of the author’s race, gender, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

3.2. Transparency

Editors must clearly communicate editorial policies, peer review procedures, and publication timelines to authors and reviewers.

3.3. Confidentiality

Editors must ensure confidentiality of all submissions and related communication.

Manuscripts may only be shared with individuals directly involved in the publication process.

3.4. Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief holds final responsibility for deciding whether a manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.

Decisions are based on the manuscript's quality, originality, reviewer comments, and relevance to the journal.

3.5. Conflict of Interest

Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where there is a personal or professional conflict of interest.

3.6. Plagiarism and Copyright

Editors must ensure all content is original or properly cited.

Suspected plagiarism will be investigated and dealt with in line with COPE guidelines.

Copyrighted material must not be published without proper permission.

3.7. Dealing with Misconduct

When ethical concerns arise, editors are responsible for initiating investigations.

Appropriate actions may include correction, retraction, or notification to the author’s institution.

4. Publisher’s Responsibilities

The RMSJ publisher supports the journal’s editorial team in maintaining academic integrity and publication quality. The publisher is committed to:

Ensuring timely publication of accepted articles.

Preserving the scholarly record through archiving and version control.

Supporting investigations into ethical misconduct when necessary.

5. Handling of Ethical Complaints

All allegations of unethical behavior, whether by authors, reviewers, or editors, will be handled promptly, fairly, and in accordance with COPE guidelines.
Potential outcomes include:

• Manuscript rejection or retraction
• Issuing corrections or clarifications
• Banning authors or reviewers from future submissions
• Reporting to relevant institutions or regulatory bodies