Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Policy Statement
The Operating Room Journal (TORGJ) enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism in all its forms. We are committed to upholding academic integrity and research transparency, as guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, and WAME.
— Definition of Plagiarism —
Plagiarism includes the use of others’ intellectual output without appropriate attribution.
Types include:
Direct plagiarism
Copying text verbatim without quotation or citation.
Self-plagiarism
Reusing one’s previously published content without disclosure.
Mosaic plagiarism
Piecing content from multiple sources without attribution.
Accidental plagiarism
Failing to cite correctly due to oversight or misunderstanding.
— AI-Generated Content & AI Plagiarism —
Definition and Concerns
AI plagiarism refers to the unacknowledged use of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, or Copilot, particularly when the content lacks original human intellectual contribution or falsely implies independent authorship.
Policy on AI Tools
Authors must disclose any AI tools used in the preparation of the manuscript (e.g., for language editing or content assistance).
AI tools must not be credited as authors under any circumstances.
AI-generated content must be critically reviewed, fact-checked, and modified by human authors to ensure scientific accuracy and ethical soundness.
Undisclosed or excessive use of AI to generate core content (e.g., abstract, results, discussion) may be considered a form of plagiarism or ghost authorship and may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.
Detection and Screening
TORGJ uses Turnitin® or equivalent AI detection tools during manuscript screening.
Any indication of AI-generated text that lacks proper attribution or meaningful human authorship will result in further investigation. Similarity index must remain below 19%, excluding references and standard terminology.
Author Responsibilities
Authors must ensure originality and proper citation of all content.
- The use of AI tools must be declared in the Methods or Acknowledgments section.
- Authors remain fully accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their submissions, regardless of AI assistance.
Editorial Response to Violations
If plagiarism including AI-generated plagiarism is detected:
- Manuscripts may be rejected, revised, or retracted depending on severity.
- Authors may be blacklisted from future submissions.
- Institutions may be notified in cases of serious misconduct.
- Published articles will be marked as “Retracted” with a clear reason noted online.
Appeals and Review Process
Authors may appeal plagiarism decisions by submitting a formal explanation. All appeals are reviewed confidentially by the TORGJ Editorial Board and Ethics Committee, whose decisions are final.
Policy Transparency and Updates
This policy is reviewed annually to reflect evolving publication ethics and technological developments, including advancements in AI. Authors are encouraged to consult the latest version before submission.