Research and Publication Ethics Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Chest Medicine (PJCM) is committed to spreading scientific medical knowledge worldwide while upholding the principles of intellectual property and copyright protection. PJCM maintains an impartial and neutral stance, free from discrimination based on factors such as religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or geographical origin. Simultaneously, the journal follows a rigorous and objective approach.

The peer-review process at PJCM is well-documented and recorded at every stage to ensure the accuracy and truthfulness of the scientific information published. The publisher guarantees that ethical and quality standards are upheld by all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors. PJCM adheres to the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICJME) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Here are the general duties and responsibilities expected from all participants in the editorial process:

General duties and responsibilities of Editors:

  • Act in a neutral and objective manner, without discrimination.
  • Strive to meet the needs of both readers and authors.
  • Ensure the quality of published material and continuously enhance the journal.
  • Editors have the responsibility to accept or reject an article and should have no conflicts of interest.
  • Foster freedom of expression.
  • Safeguard the integrity of the academic record.
  • Monitor submitted material to identify plagiarism, fraudulent data, and overlapping content.
  • Prevent business interests from compromising intellectual standards.
  • Be willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies as needed.

General duties and responsibilities of Reviewers:

  • Contribute to the decision-making process by reviewing manuscripts objectively, accurately, and in a timely manner.
  • Ensure reviews are not influenced by the manuscript's origins, the authors' characteristics, or commercial considerations.
  • Review only manuscripts within their area of expertise.
  • Maintain confidentiality of information provided by the editor or author.
  • Refrain from using review information for personal gain or to discredit others.
  • Report any conflicts of interest.
  • Alert the editor to any similar content already published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Provide objective and constructive feedback in reviews.
  • Acknowledge that peer review is a mutual effort and participate fairly when required.
  • Impersonation during the review process is considered serious misconduct.

General duties and responsibilities of Authors:

  • Authors implicitly agree to have their papers peer-reviewed.
  • Submit original work, avoid plagiarism, and cite content from other sources.
  • Confirm that the paper is not published elsewhere or under consideration for simultaneous publication.
  • Maintain accurate records of data associated with their manuscript.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and financial agreements related to the research.
  • Specify each author's contribution to the research.
  • Ensure that studies involving human subjects conform to ethical guidelines.
  • Protect patient privacy and obtain necessary permissions for identifiable materials.
  • Specify animal care guidelines in studies involving animal subjects.
  • Notify the editor or publisher promptly about significant errors and cooperate in publishing corrections or retractions.

General duties and responsibilities of the Publisher:

  • Supervise the peer-review process.
  • Protect intellectual property and copyright.
  • Respect the privacy of research participants, authors, and reviewers.
  • Monitor for plagiarism, fraudulent data, and overlapping content.
  • Ensure compliance with ethical standards in human and animal research.
  • Monitor transparency and integrity, such as conflicts of interest and research funding.
  • Publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when necessary.
  • Prevent business interests from compromising intellectual and ethical standards.
  • Prosecute misconduct in accordance with international guidelines.

The publisher ensures that all participants work effectively to achieve timely publication.