Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Journal of Modern Medical Science (JMMS)

Open Access | Bi-Annual | Double-Blind Peer Review

1. Ethical Commitment of the Journal

The Journal of Modern Medical Science (JMMS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in scholarly publishing. The journal upholds transparency, accountability, fairness, and scientific responsibility in every stage of the publication process.

All parties involved in publication—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to recognized international principles of research and publication ethics. The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, data falsification, image manipulation, unethical research practices, or any form of academic misconduct.

Ethical publishing is not merely a procedural requirement; it is a foundational responsibility to the scientific community, research participants, and society at large.

2. Ethical Principles Governing Publication

JMMS operates under the following fundamental principles:

• Scientific integrity must guide all editorial decisions.
• Research involving humans or animals must respect dignity, safety, and welfare.
• Transparency in funding, conflicts of interest, and methodology is mandatory.
• The scholarly record must be preserved accurately and corrected when necessary.
• Misconduct must be addressed fairly, promptly, and proportionately.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

3.1 Originality and Authenticity

Authors must submit only original work. Manuscripts must not have been previously published or be under consideration elsewhere. Submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously constitutes unethical practice.

All data presented must be genuine, accurately recorded, and honestly reported. Fabrication, falsification, or selective omission of data is strictly prohibited.

3.2 Plagiarism and Textual Overlap

Authors must ensure that:

• All sources are properly cited.
• Direct quotations are clearly identified.
• Paraphrased material is sufficiently distinct and appropriately referenced.
• Previously published material, including their own work, is not reused without citation and justification.

Self-plagiarism, redundant publication, and duplicate submission are considered unethical.

3.3 Authorship Criteria

Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contribution. Each listed author must have:

• Contributed significantly to study conception, design, data collection, or analysis;
• Participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;
• Approved the final version;
• Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Gift authorship, honorary authorship, and ghost authorship are unacceptable.

Changes in authorship after submission require written consent from all authors.

3.4 Data Transparency

Authors must retain original data and provide it upon reasonable request. Where feasible, datasets should be deposited in appropriate repositories. Selective reporting or withholding data to mislead readers is considered misconduct.

3.5 Ethical Approval and Consent

Research involving human participants must:

• Receive approval from an Institutional Ethics Committee or Review Board.
• Include an explicit ethics approval statement.
• Confirm that informed consent was obtained.

Animal studies must comply with established welfare guidelines and include appropriate approval documentation.

Failure to provide ethical clearance where required may result in rejection or retraction.

3.6 Clinical Trial Registration

All interventional clinical trials must be registered in a recognized public registry before participant enrollment. Registration details must be included in the manuscript.

3.7 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose:

• Financial support
• Sponsorship
• Advisory roles
• Personal or institutional affiliations that may influence the study

Full transparency ensures reader trust.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must:

• Evaluate manuscripts solely on scientific merit.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Avoid conflicts of interest.
• Ensure fair and unbiased peer review.
• Address ethical concerns diligently.

Editors must not use unpublished materials for personal research or advantage.

If ethical concerns arise, editors must initiate investigation procedures consistent with due process.

5. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Provide objective, constructive, and respectful evaluations.
• Disclose conflicts of interest.
• Avoid using information obtained during review for personal gain.
• Identify potential ethical or scientific concerns.

Reviewers who suspect misconduct must report concerns to the editor confidentially.

6. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher supports editorial independence and ensures:

• Secure management of submission systems.
• Ethical policy enforcement.
• Preservation of published content.
• Transparency in publication fees.

The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions.

7. Misconduct Definitions

The following constitute serious ethical violations:

• Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism)
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Image manipulation intended to mislead
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Unethical research practices
• Authorship manipulation
• Peer review manipulation
• Citation manipulation

8. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

JMMS follows a structured approach:

8.1 Initial Assessment

Concerns are reviewed confidentially by the editorial office and Editor-in-Chief.

8.2 Author Notification

Authors are informed of allegations and provided an opportunity to respond.

8.3 Investigation

Evidence is evaluated. If necessary, institutions or ethics committees may be contacted.

8.4 Resolution

Outcomes may include:

• Manuscript rejection
• Publication of correction
• Expression of concern
• Retraction
• Notification to institutional authorities

All investigations are conducted fairly and without presumption of guilt.

9. Corrections and Retractions

If errors are discovered post-publication:

• Minor errors may be corrected via erratum.
• Significant scientific errors may require corrigendum.
• Proven misconduct may result in retraction.
• Expressions of concern may be issued during ongoing investigations.

The integrity of the scholarly record is paramount.

10. Protection of Research Participants

Identifiable patient information must not be published without explicit written consent. Authors are responsible for safeguarding confidentiality.

Sensitive data must be anonymized appropriately.

11. AI and Automated Tools

If artificial intelligence tools were used in writing or analysis, this must be disclosed transparently. AI tools cannot be credited as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for accuracy and integrity.

12. Commitment to Ethical Evolution

JMMS recognizes that ethical standards evolve with scientific practice. The journal periodically reviews and updates its policies to align with global best practices and emerging ethical considerations.

13. Conclusion

The Journal of Modern Medical Science is dedicated to fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability in scientific publishing. Ethical compliance is not optional; it is fundamental to scholarly credibility. All contributors to the journal are expected to uphold these standards, ensuring that published research strengthens knowledge, supports patient welfare, and advances medical science responsibly.