Our Commitment to Ethical Publishing
At Potroput Journal, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We follow the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to these ethical principles.
Core Ethics Principles
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of honesty and transparency in all aspects of publishing.
- Honest representation of research
- Transparent reporting of findings
- No manipulation of data or images
- Full disclosure of funding sources
- Accurate author contributions
Originality
We require all submissions to be original work that has not been published elsewhere.
- No plagiarism or self-plagiarism
- Proper citation of sources
- Original research contributions
- No duplicate submissions
- Acknowledgment of prior work
Fairness
We ensure fair and unbiased treatment of all authors, reviewers, and editors.
- Equal opportunity for all authors
- Unbiased peer review process
- No discrimination of any kind
- Fair editorial decisions
- Transparent appeals process
Confidentiality
We protect the confidentiality of all submissions and reviewer identities.
- Confidential peer review
- Protection of author identities
- Secure handling of manuscripts
- Non-disclosure of reviewer comments
- Data protection compliance
Accountability
We take responsibility for maintaining ethical standards and correcting errors.
- Prompt correction of errors
- Retraction when necessary
- Investigation of misconduct
- Clear editorial responsibility
- Compliance with guidelines
Transparency
We maintain openness in our policies, processes, and decision-making.
- Published ethical guidelines
- Clear peer review process
- Open conflict of interest policies
- Transparent editorial decisions
- Publicly available policies
Author Responsibilities
Originality & Plagiarism
- Submit only original work
- Properly cite all sources
- Avoid self-plagiarism
- No data fabrication
- No image manipulation
Authorship Criteria
- Substantial contribution to work
- Drafting or revising critically
- Final approval of version
- Accountability for accuracy
- All authors must qualify
Data Access & Retention
- Provide raw data if requested
- Retain data for minimum 5 years
- Ensure data accuracy
- Share data for verification
- Follow ethical data practices
Conflicts of Interest
- Declare all potential conflicts
- Financial disclosures required
- Institutional affiliations
- Personal relationships
- Funding sources
Multiple Submissions
- No simultaneous submissions
- Inform editor of related papers
- Withdraw if accepted elsewhere
- Respect journal policies
- Communicate with editor
Acknowledgement of Sources
- Proper citation of all sources
- Credit prior work appropriately
- Acknowledge contributors
- Cite funding sources
- Reference all influences
Reviewer Responsibilities
Confidentiality
- Treat manuscripts as confidential
- Do not share with others
- Do not use for personal gain
- Protect author identities
- Maintain privacy throughout
Objectivity
- Provide unbiased evaluations
- Support criticisms with evidence
- Avoid personal comments
- Be constructive and respectful
- Focus on scientific merit
Timeliness
- Respond to review requests promptly
- Complete reviews on time
- Request extension if needed
- Decline if unable to review
- Respect deadlines
Conflicts of Interest
- Declare any conflicts
- Recuse if necessary
- Avoid competitive bias
- Disclose collaborations
- Notify editor immediately
Competence
- Review only in areas of expertise
- Seek guidance if uncertain
- Provide informed assessments
- Stay updated in field
- Maintain professional standards
Integrity
- Identify ethical concerns
- Report suspected misconduct
- Maintain confidentiality
- Be honest and fair
- Uphold journal standards
Editor Responsibilities
Fair Play
Editors evaluate manuscripts based on intellectual content without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.
Confidentiality
Editors must not disclose any information about a manuscript under consideration to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial board members.
Conflict of Interest
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors.
Publication Decisions
Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on the manuscript's importance, originality, and clarity, as well as the study's validity and relevance to the journal's scope.
Review Process
Editors ensure that the peer review process is fair, unbiased, and timely. They select appropriate reviewers and consider their comments objectively.
Investigation
Editors must take responsive measures when ethical concerns are raised, including publishing corrections, retractions, or apologies when necessary.
Ethical Misconduct & Actions
| Type of Misconduct | Description | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
|
Plagiarism
|
Using others' work without proper attribution | Manuscript rejection, ban on submissions |
|
Data Fabrication
|
Making up data or results | Retraction, institutional notification |
|
Data Falsification
|
Manipulating existing data | Retraction, author notification |
|
Ghost Authorship
|
Omitting qualified authors | Correction, author list revision |
|
Guest Authorship
|
Adding authors who didn't contribute | Correction, author list revision |
|
Duplicate Submission
|
Submitting same paper to multiple journals | Rejection, possible ban |
|
Conflict of Interest
|
Undisclosed competing interests | Correction, disclosure requirement |
|
Citation Manipulation
|
Excessive self-citation or citation cartels | Editorial notice, monitoring |