The journal is committed to responsible research, fair editorial assessment, transparent reporting, and preservation of an accurate scholarly record. Its publication-ethics requirements apply to authors, reviewers, editors, and other participants in the journal's editorial and publishing activities.
The journal's policies are informed by the current recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing developed by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME. Reference to these standards does not imply organizational membership or endorsement.
Authors must meet the journal's authorship criteria, approve the submitted work, and accept accountability for their contributions. Changes in author lists and unresolved authorship disputes are handled through documented procedures.
Read the Authorship Conflicts Policy.
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose relevant financial and non-financial interests. Research funding and sponsor involvement must be reported accurately. Scientific decisions must remain independent of commercial and publishing support.
Read the Editorial and Publication Policies and Instructions for Authors.
Human research must satisfy applicable ethical requirements and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (2024). Ethics approvals, exemptions, consent arrangements, and written consent for publication must be addressed when relevant.
Read the Research Ethics policies and Instructions for Authors.
Clinical trials must meet the journal's prospective registration requirements. Original research articles must include a Data Availability Statement, while reports of clinical trials must meet the relevant trial data-sharing statement and registration-plan requirements.
Read the Clinical Trial Registration and Data Sharing policies.
The journal does not accept plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, misleading image manipulation, inappropriate redundant publication, or systematic manipulation of the publication process.
Read the Originality and Research Integrity policies.
Substantive use of generative AI in manuscript preparation must be disclosed. AI tools cannot qualify for authorship; human authors remain accountable for all submitted work. Editors and reviewers must protect unpublished manuscripts and confidential peer-review information.
Read the Artificial Intelligence and Confidentiality policies.
Concerns about fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical research, manipulated peer review, undisclosed competing interests, or other integrity matters may be reported to the Editorial Office. Relevant documentation should be provided where available. The journal may refer matters requiring formal investigation to competent institutional or research-integrity authorities.
Read the Research Misconduct policy.
The journal may issue corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or other appropriate notices when errors, unreliable findings, or unresolved integrity concerns affect published work. These actions are intended to protect the scholarly record.
Read the Post-Publication Scholarly Record policies.
Authors may appeal editorial decisions on substantive grounds. Authors, reviewers, readers, and others affected may raise concerns about editorial processes, delays, conduct, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, or publishing operations.
Read the Appeals and Complaints procedures.
For ordinary editorial appeals, publication-ethics questions, suspected misconduct, and complaints:
The journal — Editorial Office
Contact the Editorial Office
For complaints concerning the Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, or Co-Publisher:
Designated representative, the Publisher's designated ethics representative
Contact the Editorial Office
Complainants may contact the institutional ethics route directly without first addressing the Editorial Office. The designated representative must not participate in determining a complaint where they have a relevant conflict of interest.
Last updated: 16 October 2026