Publication Ethics and Malpractice

The Medical Technology Journal of Applied Science (MTJAS) Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

1. Introduction

The Medical Technology Journal of Applied Science (MTJAS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We take a firm stance against any form of academic misconduct and are guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process: authors, peer reviewers, editors, and the editorial board.

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to MTJAS are expected to adhere to the following ethical guidelines:

  • Originality: Manuscripts must present original research. Authors should not submit work that has been previously published or is under consideration by another journal.

  • Accurate Reporting: Research should be conducted and presented honestly. Authors must not fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data.

  • Authorship: Authorship should be based on a significant intellectual contribution to the work, as defined in our Authorship Policy. All contributors who meet the criteria should be listed, and all listed authors must have approved the final manuscript.

  • Plagiarism: The journal has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Any text, data, or ideas from other sources must be properly cited and referenced. This includes self-plagiarism. All manuscripts are screened with Turnitin to ensure a similarity score of less than 22%.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose all potential financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research or its findings.

  • Ethical Approval: For research involving human subjects or animals, authors must provide a statement confirming that the work was conducted in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines and that the study received approval from the appropriate institutional ethics committee.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality of published research. They are expected to:

  • Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript as a confidential document. Do not share or discuss the content with anyone without the permission of the editor.

  • Objectivity: Provide an unbiased and objective critique of the manuscript. Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate.

  • Promptness: Submit their review within the agreed-upon timeframe. If unable to complete the review, they should notify the editor immediately.

  • Conflict of Interest: Decline to review any manuscript where they have a potential conflict of interest, such as a close relationship with an author or a competing interest in the subject matter.

  • Ethical Concerns: Alert the editor to any ethical concerns, such as a suspicion of plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate publication.

4. Editorial Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief and the editorial board are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the journal and its policies. Their duties include:

  • Fair Play: Evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance, without regard to the authors' race, gender, institutional affiliation, or any other personal characteristic.

  • Confidentiality: Protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and all communications with authors and reviewers.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Recuse themselves from any manuscript where they have a potential conflict of interest.

  • Timeliness: Manage the peer review process efficiently to ensure timely publication.

  • Vigilance: Take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where misconduct has occurred.

5. Handling of Misconduct

MTJAS takes allegations of misconduct seriously. When a potential breach of publication ethics is identified, the journal will follow the procedures outlined in the COPE guidelines. The process includes:

  1. Investigation: The editor will conduct an initial investigation. If the allegations appear to be founded, the authors will be contacted to provide a detailed explanation.

  2. Decision: Based on the investigation and the authors' response, the editor, in consultation with the editorial board, will make a decision.

  3. Actions: Depending on the severity of the misconduct, actions may include:

    • Issuing a warning to the author(s).

    • Rejecting the manuscript.

    • Formally retracting a published article.

    • Imposing a ban on future submissions.

    • Notifying the author's institution or funding body.

6. Complaints and Appeals

Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit formal complaints regarding any aspect of the journal's procedures or an ethical concern. All complaints should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief. The journal will investigate all complaints promptly and fairly. Authors have the right to appeal a rejection decision by providing a detailed, point-by-point rebuttal to the reviewers' comments.