Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Archives of Case Reports (ACR) upholds the highest ethical standards in medical and scientific publishing. Our commitment to integrity, transparency, and credibility ensures that all published case reports, clinical studies, and research findings adhere to internationally recognized ethical guidelines. ACR follows the policies set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Medical Association (WMA).

Editorial Responsibilities

The editorial board of ACR is responsible for maintaining a rigorous, unbiased peer-review process. Editors must:

  • Assess manuscripts based on scientific merit, relevance, and ethical integrity.
  • Ensure confidentiality throughout the peer-review process.
  • Investigate and act on ethical concerns, including conflicts of interest and research misconduct.
  • Follow COPE guidelines in cases of retractions, corrections, or ethical breaches.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to ACR must adhere to the highest ethical standards in medical research and case reporting. Authors must:

  • Ensure their work is original and properly cited, avoiding any form of plagiarism.
  • Disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest.
  • Obtain patient consent and ethical approvals where applicable.
  • Ensure accurate and complete data reporting.
  • Notify the editorial board of any necessary corrections post-publication.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality and credibility of ACR. They are expected to:

  • Provide fair, objective, and constructive feedback.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest before reviewing.
  • Report any suspected ethical misconduct.

Ethical Considerations for Case Reports

As ACR primarily publishes case reports, authors must adhere to strict ethical guidelines:

  • All case reports must have informed patient consent.
  • Identifiable patient details must be anonymized unless explicit consent is provided.
  • Studies involving human subjects must follow IRB or ethical committee approval guidelines.

Plagiarism, Data Integrity, and Scientific Misconduct

ACR maintains a strict stance against unethical practices, including:

  • Plagiarism: All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening to ensure originality.
  • Data Falsification: Manipulation or fabrication of data is strictly prohibited.
  • Duplicate Submissions: Simultaneous submissions to multiple journals are not allowed.

Handling Ethical Violations

Suspected ethical misconduct is taken seriously. The process includes:

  • Investigation: ACR reviews allegations of misconduct following COPE guidelines.
  • Author Response: Authors are given an opportunity to clarify or correct issues.
  • Corrective Action: If ethical violations are confirmed, actions may include rejection, retraction, or reporting to institutions.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Archives of Case Reports is committed to upholding the highest ethical publishing standards. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with ethical guidelines to ensure integrity in scientific communication.

For inquiries regarding ethical policies, please contact the editorial office at [email protected].