Publication Ethics
Ethical Standards & Research Integrity
Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy
Green Publication Services Private Limited, the publisher of the International Journal for Research in Internal Medicine (IJRIM), is committed to maintaining high standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility throughout the editorial, peer review, and publication processes.
The publisher follows recognized publication ethics principles and best-practice guidance established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Its editorial and publication policies are periodically reviewed to support continuous improvement in publication quality and research integrity. Feedback from authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members is encouraged to strengthen ethical publishing practices.
All manuscripts submitted to IJRIM undergo an initial editorial assessment followed, where appropriate, by a double-blind peer review process involving at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise. Editorial evaluations consider the manuscript's originality, scientific quality, methodological soundness, clinical relevance, and compliance with publication ethics requirements.
Editorial and Production Checks
Editorial and production checks may also address technical presentation, formatting, language, and clarity. Minor grammatical, language, or formatting corrections may be made where necessary, without changing the authors' intended meaning, research findings, or scholarly conclusions.
Peer Review
Double-Blind
Independent evaluation
Ethical Framework
COPE Principles
Recognized ethics guidance
Research Integrity
Accountability
Responsible publication
01. Research Misconduct Policy
Green Publication Services Private Limited follows recognized COPE guidance when addressing allegations or suspected cases of research and publication misconduct.
Research misconduct may include, but is not limited to:
- Duplicate submission or redundant publication.
- Plagiarism or inappropriate reuse of text, data, figures, or ideas without proper acknowledgement.
- Data fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
- Image manipulation or misleading presentation of research findings.
- Citation manipulation or coercive citation practices.
- Unethical authorship or contributorship practices.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
- Breaches of research ethics, including inadequate informed consent or inappropriate handling of patient information.
When concerns are raised by reviewers, editors, readers, authors, or other parties, the editorial office conducts an initial assessment and, where appropriate, follows relevant COPE guidance and procedures.
Authors may be contacted and given an opportunity to respond to the concerns and provide explanations or supporting documentation. The editorial team evaluates the available information before determining the appropriate course of action.
Possible Editorial Actions
Rejection of a manuscript before publication.
Requests for clarification or additional supporting information.
Publication of a correction or clarification.
Publication of an expression of concern.
Retraction of a published article where justified.
If concerns cannot be resolved through the editorial process, or if institutional investigation is necessary, the matter may be referred to the authors' affiliated institutions or other appropriate authorities, where justified.
All actions are taken with the objective of protecting research integrity and maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record.
02. Authorship and Contributorship Policy
IJRIM recognizes authorship as an important responsibility that reflects substantial scholarly contributions to published research. Authors are expected to ensure that authorship is assigned fairly and transparently.
Authorship should reflect genuine contributions to the research, manuscript preparation, critical intellectual review, and approval of the final version, together with accountability for the integrity of the work.
Requests for authorship changes may involve:
01
Addition of an author
02
Removal of an author
03
Change in corresponding author
04
Modification of author order
All requests for authorship changes, whether submitted before or after publication, must be made in writing with a clear explanation and justification.
Required Author Agreement
In accordance with recognized publication ethics guidance, written agreement from all affected authors, including authors being added or removed, must be obtained before a change is approved. The editorial office may request confirmation from all listed authors to ensure that the proposed change is mutually acknowledged.
If the authors cannot reach agreement, the requested change may be placed on hold until the dispute is resolved. Where necessary, the matter may be referred to the relevant affiliated institution for investigation.
Authorship changes to already published articles will be handled through appropriate editorial procedures to maintain the accuracy and transparency of the published record.
03. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to disclose any financial, professional, personal, or institutional interests that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, the research or editorial evaluation.
Authors
Must disclose relevant conflicts of interest during submission.
Reviewers
Must declare potential conflicts before participating in manuscript evaluation.
Editors
Must declare conflicts before decision-making and withdraw where impartiality may be compromised.
The editorial office assesses disclosed conflicts and takes appropriate steps to safeguard the independence and fairness of editorial decisions.
04. Research Ethics and Patient Protection
Research involving human participants, patients, or identifiable clinical information must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements.
Where applicable, authors must provide information regarding:
- Approval from an appropriate institutional ethics committee or review board.
- Informed consent obtained from participants or their legally authorized representatives.
- Consent for publication of identifiable patient information, clinical images, or case details.
- Measures taken to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that identifying information is not disclosed without appropriate authorization and consent. The editorial office may request supporting documentation when necessary.
05. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions
IJRIM is committed to maintaining the accuracy and reliability of its published scholarly record.
When significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal evaluates the matter and determines whether a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is appropriate.
Such actions are handled in accordance with recognized publication ethics guidance and the journal's applicable editorial procedures.
06. Commitment to Ethical Publishing
Green Publication Services Private Limited and the International Journal for Research in Internal Medicine (IJRIM) are committed to protecting the integrity of scholarly communication through responsible editorial management, independent peer review, transparent authorship practices, and appropriate handling of ethical concerns.
The publisher encourages authors, reviewers, editors, and readers to report suspected ethical issues so that concerns can be assessed fairly and addressed appropriately.
Further Information
For further information about publication ethics principles and best practices, please visit the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Integrity. Transparency. Responsible Publishing.
IJRIM is committed to protecting research integrity and maintaining trust in scholarly communication.