Publication Ethics
Roles and Responsibilities of an Editor
An editor is accountable for everything published in their journal. Their responsibilities include:
- Meeting the needs of readers and authors.
- Regularly improving the journal.
- Ensuring the quality of published research.
- Supporting freedom of expression.
- Maintaining the integrity of the academic record.
- Safeguarding intellectual property standards against commercial pressures.
- Addressing publication errors through corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies when needed.
Responsibilities to Readers
- Disclose research funders and their roles in the research process.
Responsibilities to Authors
- Ensure the quality and credibility of published works while recognizing the different aims and standards for journal sections.
- Base publication decisions on a manuscript’s significance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope.
- Provide transparent peer review processes and clarify deviations if necessary.
- Offer authors a formal mechanism for appealing editorial decisions.
- Publish updated author guidelines and reference relevant regulations.
- Avoid overturning rejections without significant new evidence or issues.
- Prevent a new editor from reversing previous rejection decisions unless critical problems arise.
Responsibilities to Peer Reviewers
- Provide clear, regularly updated reviewer guidelines.
- Implement systems to protect reviewer confidentiality unless operating an open peer review model with prior notification.
Peer Review Process
- Ensure that submissions are confidential during the review process.
Complaints Handling
- Follow established workflows by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
- Respond promptly to complaints and ensure complainants feel heard.
- Clearly outline complaint mechanisms and provide escalation processes for unresolved issues.
Supporting Scholarly Discourse
- Publish critiques of articles unless substantial reasons justify withholding them.
- Allow authors to respond to criticisms of their work.
- Ensure conflicting findings or negative results are considered for publication.
Upholding Research Integrity
- Ensure all published research complies with recognized ethical standards.
- Confirm that research has institutional approval (e.g., ethics committees), while acknowledging this is not a guarantee of ethical compliance.
Data Protection
- Protect personal data (e.g., patient identities) and require consent for publication. Exceptions may apply if the research is of significant public health value and obtaining consent is unfeasible, provided no objections are raised.
Misconduct Monitoring
- Investigate suspected misconduct in published and unpublished works.
- Seek clarification from involved parties before making decisions.
- Follow COPE workflows when necessary.
Academic Record Accuracy
- Promptly correct inaccuracies or retract publications due to verified misconduct.
- Notify readers and database systems about such corrections or retractions.
Relationship with Publishers and Journal Owners
- Ensure editorial independence despite economic or political pressures.
- Focus on publication quality and reader relevance over financial or political interests.
Commercial Considerations
- Maintain transparency about advertising policies.
- Reject misleading advertisements and uphold consistent standards across journal content.
- Preserve the original integrity of republished works unless updates are essential.
Conflict of Interest Management
- Establish mechanisms to handle conflicts of interest among editors, staff, authors, reviewers, and editorial board members.
Complaint Escalation to COPE
Complaints about editors may be escalated to COPE under the following conditions:
- The editor/journal in question is a COPE member.
- The complaint falls within COPE’s scope.
- The journal’s internal complaint process has been exhausted.
- Supporting evidence is provided.
Possible Actions by COPE:
- Recommend corrections, apologies, or process improvements.
- Suspend or revoke the editor’s COPE membership.
Appeals Process
- Complainants may appeal COPE decisions through designated contact points provided by COPE.