The International Journal of Clinical Medical Research (IJCMR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical practice in all stages of the publishing process. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors, and describes our policies for addressing research misconduct and publication malpractice. Our policies align with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other international standards.

✦ Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors submitting to IJCMR must ensure their work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal. They are required to disclose any financial support, institutional affiliations, and potential conflicts of interest.

All listed authors should meet internationally accepted criteria for authorship, which include substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition or analysis, drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, final approval of the version to be published, and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Authors must obtain appropriate ethical approvals for studies involving human or animal subjects, and provide informed consent where applicable. They are also responsible for responding promptly and cooperatively to editors’ requests during peer review and production.

✦ Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal. They are expected to provide fair, unbiased, and constructive feedback, and to evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit without regard to authors’ identity or affiliations.

Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality and must not share or use information from submitted manuscripts for personal advantage. Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed immediately to the editorial office. Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a particular manuscript or unable to meet the review deadline should promptly notify the editors.

✦ Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring that every manuscript is evaluated on its academic merit in a timely and impartial manner. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the relevance, originality, and quality of the submission, and are not influenced by the authors’ race, gender, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics.

Editors will take reasonable steps to identify and prevent publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred. In cases where ethical concerns are raised about a submitted or published manuscript, editors will investigate thoroughly and act in accordance with COPE flowcharts and recommendations.

✦ Handling of Misconduct and Complaints

The journal treats all allegations of research misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation, and unethical research practices—very seriously. Reported cases will be investigated confidentially, and appropriate actions will be taken. These actions may include rejection of the manuscript, retraction of a published article, or notification of relevant institutions and funding agencies.

IJCMR also provides a transparent process for handling complaints or appeals from authors, reviewers, and readers. Complaints can be submitted to [email protected] and will be addressed in accordance with COPE’s guidelines.

✦ Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

If a published article is found to contain significant errors or ethical violations, IJCMR will issue a retraction, correction, or expression of concern as appropriate. Retractions will follow COPE Retraction Guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability in the scholarly record.

✦ Ethical Oversight

IJCMR upholds strict ethical oversight of research involving human participants, animals, and sensitive data. Authors must include ethics approval information and consent statements in their manuscripts where applicable. The journal reserves the right to request documentation of ethical compliance at any stage of submission or publication.

✦ Commitment to Best Practices

IJCMR adheres to the principles of openness, integrity, and responsible publication. We encourage all stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—to support and uphold these values to strengthen trust in the scientific publishing process.