Duties of Authors
Duties of Authors: Reporting Standards
Authors of original research must provide an accurate representation of the work and offer a balanced discussion regarding its significance. All underlying data should be presented faithfully. The manuscript must be detailed enough, with proper citations, to allow replication of the study by other researchers. Misleading or intentionally false statements are unethical and not acceptable. Published reviews and articles must also be accurate, objective, and clearly differentiate editorial opinions from the content.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review. They should be prepared to offer public access to this data when applicable. Furthermore, authors should retain the data for a reasonable period following publication. Withholding data without justifiable reasons is considered unethical.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. If they utilize others’ work or words, proper citations must be made. Plagiarism in any form whether by presenting another person's research as one's own, copying or paraphrasing crucial sections without citation, or claiming results obtained by others is unethical and unacceptable.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
An author should not publish manuscripts that describe essentially the same research in multiple journals or publications. Simultaneously submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal is also considered unethical. Generally, previously published papers should not be resubmitted to other journals. However, some articles (such as clinical guidelines or translations) may be justified for secondary publication, provided they meet specific conditions. Authors and editors must agree on this secondary publication, which must present the same data and interpretation as the original work. All primary references should be cited in the secondary publication.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Proper acknowledgment must always be given to the work of others. Authors should cite studies and publications that significantly influenced the development of their research. Personal information or data obtained through conversations, correspondence, or third-party discussions should not be used without explicit written consent. Similarly, confidential materials, such as reference manuscripts or grant applications, cannot be used without written permission from the original authors.
Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be restricted to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. Everyone who has contributed meaningfully must be listed as co-authors. If others have been involved in certain aspects of the research, they should be recognized as contributors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors are appropriately included and that the final version of the manuscript is approved by all co-authors before submission.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
If the research involves hazardous chemicals, procedures, or equipment, the author must clearly identify these risks in the manuscript. When the study involves animal or human subjects, the author must confirm that all relevant laws and institutional guidelines were followed and that appropriate approvals were obtained from the relevant ethical committees. For studies involving human subjects, authors must include a statement confirming that consent was obtained. The privacy and rights of human subjects must always be prioritized.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or other substantial conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the results or interpretation of the manuscript. Authors must also disclose all sources of financial support for the research. Examples of conflicts of interest include employment, consulting arrangements, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent filings, and funding from grants or other sources. Potential conflicts should be disclosed as early as possible to ensure transparency.
Fundamental Errors in Published Works
If an author becomes aware of significant errors or inaccuracies in a published work, it is their responsibility to notify the journal editor or publisher immediately. Authors should collaborate with the editor to retract or correct the paper. If the editor or publisher is informed by a third party about significant errors in a published paper, the author must take immediate action to either retract the paper or provide evidence supporting the accuracy of the original work.