Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences
Journal Information
Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics Policy

 | Post date: 2025/05/5 | 

 Publication Ethics Policy

1. Ethical Framework

The Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences (JTHUMS) strictly adheres to:
  • ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) Recommendations
  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Guidelines
  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Principles

2. Authorship Criteria

Authors must meet all of the following conditions:
✓ Substantial contributions to conception/design, data acquisition, or analysis/interpretation
✓ Drafting or critically revising the article
✓ Final approval of the published version
✓ Accountability for all aspects of the work

3. Originality & Plagiarism Screening

All submissions are screened using:
  • iThenticate plagiarism detection software
  • Similarity-check tools
    Threshold: <20% similarity (excluding references)

4. Peer Review Process
  • Type: Double-blind
  • Duration: 45-60 days
  • Reviewers: Minimum 2 subject experts
  • Decision Types:
    • Accept without revisions
    • Minor revisions required
    • Major revisions required
    • Reject

5. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors must:
  1. Certify original, unpublished work
  2. Disclose conflicts of interest
  3. Provide accurate data with proper references
  4. Obtain necessary ethical approvals (IRB approval for human/animal studies)
  5. Report errors in published work immediately
  6. Complete and sign the Authorship Contribution Form

6. Reviewers' Responsibilities

Reviewers must:
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Declare conflicts of interest
  • Provide objective, constructive feedback
  • Identify relevant unpublished works
  • Report suspected plagiarism/ethical issues
  • Complete reviews within the stipulated time

7. Editorial Responsibilities

The editorial team will:
  • Ensure fair and timely review process
  • Maintain submission confidentiality
  • Make publication decisions based solely on merit
  • Publish corrections/retractions when needed
  • Handle ethical complaints per COPE flowcharts

8. Research Ethics Compliance
  • Human Studies: Documented IRB approval and informed consent required
  • Animal Studies: Must follow ARRIVE guidelines
  • Clinical Trials: Registration in approved registry mandatory

9. Conflict of Interest Policy

All participants must disclose:
  • Financial relationships
  • Institutional affiliations
  • Personal relationships
  • Intellectual passions

10. Copyright & Licensing
  • License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)
  • Author Rights: Retain copyright
  • User Rights: Free to share/adapt with proper attribution

11. Plagiarism Handling

Three-tier response system:
  1. Pre-publication: Immediate rejection
  2. Post-publication:
    • Investigation per COPE guidelines
    • Temporary article suspension
    • Possible retraction with notice
  3. Author sanctions:
    • 3-year submission ban for serious violations
    • Institutional notification

12. Publication Timeline
  • Initial decision: 2 weeks
  • Peer review: 6-8 weeks
  • Final decision: Within 10 weeks
  • Online publication: Within 4 weeks of acceptance

13. Appeals Process

Authors may appeal decisions by:
  1. Submitting a formal letter to the Editor-in-Chief
  2. Providing additional evidence
  3. Case review by ethics committee
  4. Final determination within 30 days

14. Post-Publication Discussions
  • Correspondence section for scholarly debate
  • Formal correction system for errors
  • Article versioning for major updates

15. Archiving & Indexing

All content preserved in:
  • Google Scholar
  • ISC
  • Magiran
  • SID
  • IranMedex
 
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