PUBLICATION ETHICS

This journal adheres to the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing all matters related to publication ethics, particularly in managing issues of research and publication misconduct. Any manuscript involving human participants must comply with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, while studies involving animals must follow the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research as established by the Council for International Organization of Medical Sciences (CIOMS).

The Scalpelium: Journal of Surgery and Clinical Research implements COPE’s ethical framework to uphold high standards of integrity for publishers, editors, authors, and reviewers. Clear articulation of ethical responsibilities is essential to elevate the global quality of scholarly publications. This section details the ethical expectations for each party involved. Publishers are not allowed to influence the scientific content but are responsible for ensuring timely publication.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Editors are accountable for the content published in the Scalpelium: Journal of Surgery and Clinical Research.

  • Editors are expected to guide authors to adhere to the author guidelines based on the ICMJE recommendations.

  • Editors may consult with other editorial board members or peer reviewers when making final decisions.

  • Manuscripts must be assessed based solely on their academic merit, without discrimination based on the authors’ nationality, ethnicity, political stance, race, religion, gender, seniority, or institutional background.

  • Editors must recuse themselves in cases where a conflict of interest exists.

  • Manuscripts sent for review should be anonymized to protect both author and reviewer identities.

  • Decisions must be communicated to authors along with constructive reviewer feedback, unless it contains inappropriate or defamatory content.

  • Editors should honor reasonable author requests to exclude certain reviewers, provided valid justification is given.

  • Confidentiality of submitted manuscripts must be strictly maintained by editors and editorial staff.

  • If allegations of misconduct arise or authorship disputes occur, editors should refer to COPE’s flowcharts for guidance.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Reviewers are expected to identify ethical concerns and potential research or publication misconduct.

  • Reviews should be completed promptly, and editors must be notified if reviewers are unable to meet deadlines.

  • Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents.

  • Reviewers should decline to review if any conflict of interest exists with the manuscript or its authors.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Authors must confirm that their submission is original and has not been published elsewhere, nor is it under consideration by another journal.

  • Proper citation of sources is required, and plagiarism or self-plagiarism is strictly forbidden.

  • The journal prohibits salami slicing (fragmenting one study into several publications).

  • Authors must comply with the ICMJE authorship criteria as stated in the journal’s author guidelines.

  • No identifying information about patients should be included unless absolutely necessary and with written informed consent, which must be clearly acknowledged.

  • For research involving human subjects, authors must confirm adherence to the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and any applicable institutional review boards. Any deviations must be justified. Research involving animals must conform to relevant national and international animal care guidelines.

  • Authors must be prepared to provide raw data or documentation if there are concerns regarding the authenticity of the research.

  • Any potential conflicts of interest—including financial support, consulting fees, or intellectual property ownership—must be disclosed using the ICMJE Conflict of Interest form.