Publication Ethics Policy

Purpose and Scope

This policy outlines the ethical principles that govern all stages of manuscript submission, review, and publication at JAPCH. It ensures that research published in the journal adheres to the highest international standards of honesty, accuracy, and transparency.

Ethical Principles

• Integrity: All submitted research must represent original work with accurate data and appropriate interpretation.
• Transparency: Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest or funding influences.
• Accountability: The journal ensures fair treatment of all participants in the publishing process.

Editorial Independence

The editorial team operates autonomously, free from external influence, ensuring that publication decisions are based solely on scientific merit and ethical soundness. Editors adhere to COPE’s Core Practices and uphold confidentiality for all submissions.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship is based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, data analysis, or interpretation of the study. Authors must:

• Approve the final version before publication.
• Agree to be accountable for the integrity of their work.
• Follow ICMJE authorship guidelines.

Research Ethics

All research involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Studies involving animals must follow institutional ethical guidelines, including humane treatment and prior approval from animal care committees.

Data Integrity and Availability

Authors must maintain accurate research records and retain data for verification if requested. Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation is strictly prohibited. Authors are encouraged to share datasets in recognized repositories for transparency.

Peer Review Ethics

All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review to ensure objectivity. Reviewers and editors must disclose conflicts of interest and handle manuscripts confidentially. Manipulation of peer review or coercion of reviewers is considered serious misconduct.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

All authors, reviewers, and editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest that could affect objectivity. Financial, academic, or personal relationships that may influence outcomes must be disclosed at submission.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, or ethical misconduct are investigated following COPE Flowcharts. Sanctions may include retraction, institutional notification, or author blacklisting.

Corrections and Retractions

JAPCH ensures correction of the scholarly record when errors or misconduct are identified. Minor errors are corrected via errata, while major issues result in retraction or expression of concern in line with COPE’s Retraction Guidelines.

Plagiarism and Redundancy

Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using advanced detection software (iThenticate or Turnitin). Overlaps exceeding 10% without proper citation are flagged for author clarification or rejection. Duplicate submission to multiple journals is unethical and grounds for rejection.

Ethical Oversight for Pediatric Studies

Given the journal’s focus, all studies involving children must ensure minimal risk, informed parental consent, and adherence to child protection laws. Sensitive data are anonymized before publication.

Data Privacy and GDPR Compliance

JAPCH complies with GDPR and data protection standards. Personal identifiers of patients or research participants are published only with explicit consent and appropriate anonymization.

Advertising and Sponsorship

Advertisements are accepted only if they are relevant to medicine or scientific research and clearly distinguished from editorial content. Sponsors have no influence over editorial decisions or peer review outcomes.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

IgMin Research ensures the integrity and permanence of the scholarly record, providing digital archiving via CLOCKSS and LOCKSS. The publisher collaborates with indexing services and archives to maintain transparent access to content.

Complaint and Appeal Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions with supporting documentation. Appeals are reviewed independently by the ethics committee to ensure fairness and objectivity.

Sanctions for Ethical Violations

Confirmed cases of ethical breaches may lead to:

• Rejection or retraction of articles.
• Notification to authors’ institutions or funders.
• Permanent ban from future submissions.

Continuous Improvement

JAPCH regularly reviews its ethical policies to align with global updates from COPE, WAME, and ICMJE. Training and awareness programs are implemented to maintain ethical awareness among editorial members and authors.

Contact Information

For questions about this policy or ethical concerns:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pediatricshealthjournal.com