Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy

The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ)

The Operating Room Global Journal (TORGJ) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. Our editorial and review processes align with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

This policy outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process; authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to ensure that ethical principles, transparency, and integrity are maintained throughout.

1. Ethical Principles

TORGJ’s editorial policies are built upon the following ethical principles:

  • Integrity and transparency in research and reporting
  • Respect for confidentiality and intellectual property
  • Fair and unbiased editorial decisions
  • Accountability and responsible authorship
  • Compliance with ethical standards for research involving humans and animals

2. Duties of Authors

Authors must adhere to the following ethical standards when submitting work to TORGJ:

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • All manuscripts must be original and free from plagiarism, duplication, fabrication, or falsification.
  • Submitted work must not have been published elsewhere or be under review by another journal.
  • TORGJ uses plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate or Turnitin) to verify originality.
  • Direct quotations, data, and ideas from other sources must be properly cited and referenced.

2.2 Authorship and Contributions

  • Authorship should reflect significant intellectual contribution to the research, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.
  • All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
  • Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.
  • Any changes to authorship after submission must be approved by all authors and justified to the editor.

2.3 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose all financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.
  • A conflict-of-interest statement must be included in each manuscript.

2.4 Ethical Approvals

  • Research involving humans, animals, or identifiable data must include a statement confirming approval by an appropriate ethics committee.
  • Informed consent must be obtained from all participants or their guardians.
  • Clinical studies must adhere to recognized international standards (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki).

2.5 Data Integrity and Availability

  • Authors should retain primary data and be prepared to provide access upon request for verification.
  • Data sharing statements are encouraged to promote transparency and reproducibility.

2.6 Redundant or Concurrent Publication

  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently is strictly prohibited.
  • Articles that build on previously published work must clearly reference earlier studies and specify what is new.

3. Duties of Editors

Editors and the Editorial Board are responsible for ensuring fair and ethical handling of all submissions.

3.1 Editorial Independence

  • Decisions to accept or reject a manuscript are based solely on its academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Editors must avoid any personal, financial, or institutional conflicts of interest that could influence their decisions.

3.2 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts and related communications are treated as confidential documents.
  • Editors must not share or use unpublished information from submissions for personal advantage.

3.3 Fair Review Process

  • Editors ensure that each manuscript undergoes a rigorous double-blind peer review by qualified experts.
  • Reviews are evaluated objectively and without bias regarding the author’s nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.

3.4 Handling Misconduct

  • In cases of suspected ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, authorship disputes), editors will follow COPE flowcharts to investigate and take appropriate action.
  • If misconduct is confirmed, TORGJ reserves the right to reject or retract the manuscript and inform relevant institutions or funders.

4. Duties of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the scientific quality and integrity of published research.

4.1 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts assigned for review are confidential and should not be shared or discussed with others.

4.2 Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

  • Reviews must be objective, evidence-based, and aimed at improving the quality of the manuscript.
  • Reviewers should avoid personal criticism and provide clear, constructive comments.

4.3 Conflicts of Interest

  • Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest (financial, institutional, or personal) that might affect their impartiality.
  • If unsure of their ability to provide an unbiased review, reviewers should decline the invitation.

4.4 Timeliness

  • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed timeline or inform the editorial office promptly if they cannot.

5. Duties of the Publisher

The Operating Room Global Centre for Education, Research & Innovation, as the publisher of TORGJ, upholds these responsibilities:

  • Supporting the journal’s independence and editorial decisions.
  • Maintaining digital preservation and access to published articles.
  • Implementing procedures for handling ethical breaches, retractions, and corrections.
  • Ensuring all articles are published under a transparent open-access license (CC BY 4.0).

6. Handling of Ethical Misconduct

When ethical issues arise, TORGJ follows a transparent and systematic process:

  1. Initial Inquiry: The editorial office investigates any complaint or concern, maintaining confidentiality.
  2. Author Notification: The corresponding author is informed and given an opportunity to respond.
  3. Investigation: If warranted, a formal review is conducted following COPE guidelines.
  4. Outcomes: Depending on the severity, actions may include:
    • Rejection of the manuscript
    • Publication of corrections or retractions
    • Notification to the author’s institution or funder
    • Temporary or permanent ban from future submissions

All retractions or corrections are clearly labelled and linked to the original article.

7. Retraction and Correction Policy

  • Retractions are issued when evidence confirms data falsification, plagiarism, or unethical conduct.
  • Corrections (Errata) are published for significant errors that affect the work’s interpretation but do not invalidate it.
  • Expressions of Concern may be published while investigations are ongoing.
    All such notices remain permanently available and linked to the affected article.

8. Advertising, Funding, and Sponsorship

  • TORGJ maintains strict separation between editorial decision-making and commercial or sponsor influence.
  • All funding sources or sponsorship must be transparently disclosed.
  • Advertising, if accepted, must not compromise editorial independence.

9. Appeals and Complaints

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days, providing a clear rationale.
  • Ethical or procedural complaints can be addressed to the publisher via [email protected].
  • All appeals and complaints will be handled in line with COPE best practice guidance.

10. Ethical Oversight

TORGJ maintains continuous oversight of ethical standards through:

  • Periodic training for editors and reviewers on COPE guidelines
  • Regular review of editorial policies
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in authorship and review practices

Transparency Statement:
TORGJ’s editorial and ethical policies are publicly available. All articles display a “Provenance and Peer Review” statement indicating whether they were commissioned and how they were reviewed.

References and Standards:

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