The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports (GJMCCR) is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing and adheres to stringent guidelines to prevent any form of malpractice. We emphasize transparency, fairness, and accountability in every aspect of the publication process, ensuring that all stakeholders, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, fulfill their ethical responsibilities. By promoting integrity and ethical conduct, we aim to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and clinical excellence while fostering trust within the academic and healthcare communities.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors play a critical role in maintaining the credibility of scholarly publishing. To this end, the following ethical responsibilities must be adhered to:

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that all submissions are original and properly cited, avoiding any form of plagiarism or unauthorized use of others' work.
• Accurate Reporting: Research findings, clinical observations, and data must be presented honestly, clearly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could lead to potential conflicts of interest.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment must be given to the contributions of others, including citing all sources that have influenced the research.
• Ethical Compliance: Any research involving human participants must conform to ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent and institutional review board (IRB) approval. These details must be clearly documented in the manuscript.
• Error Reporting: If significant errors or inaccuracies are identified in published work, authors must promptly inform the editorial office and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper as necessary.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are tasked with ensuring the integrity, impartiality, and confidentiality of the review and publication process. Their primary responsibilities include:

• Fair and Impartial Decision-Making: Editorial decisions must be based solely on the academic and clinical merit of submissions, free from bias regarding authors' personal characteristics or affiliations.
• Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential and shared only with those directly involved in the publication process.
• Preventing Malpractice: Editors are responsible for identifying and preventing unethical practices such as plagiarism, duplicate submissions, and data manipulation using advanced tools and robust editorial policies.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist, ensuring impartiality.
• Addressing Ethical Concerns: In cases of ethical breaches, editors must act promptly and in line with established protocols, including issuing corrections, retractions, or other appropriate actions.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers provide critical expertise to uphold the quality and credibility of published content. Their responsibilities include:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and refrain from sharing content or ideas with unauthorized parties.
• Objectivity and Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be impartial, constructive, and focus on providing actionable suggestions to improve the manuscript.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify and notify editors of any significant overlap with previously published work not cited by the authors.
• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest may compromise objectivity.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the journal's efforts to maintain ethical standards by ensuring adherence to the following:

• Upholding Ethical Standards: The publisher is committed to preventing any form of publication malpractice and supports editors, reviewers, and authors in maintaining ethical practices.
• Integrity in Publishing: All decisions and processes are guided by transparency, fairness, and respect for the scholarly record.
• Handling Misconduct: The publisher works closely with editors to investigate and address cases of suspected misconduct in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

5. Addressing Ethical Concerns

The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports (GJMCCR) follows the best practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Allegations of ethical misconduct are thoroughly investigated, and appropriate corrective actions, such as corrections or retractions, are taken when necessary. The journal ensures a transparent and fair process for addressing concerns to uphold trust and credibility within the academic and medical communities.

By adhering to these principles, the GJMCCR aims to foster a culture of ethical publishing that advances medical knowledge, promotes clinical excellence, and ensures the integrity of its scientific contributions.