Publication Ethics

Jurnal Kedokteran (Unram Medical Journal) is a peer-reviewed electronic journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, the Editorial Board, and the publisher. These guidelines are informed by the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

1. General Principles

Peer-reviewed articles are vital to the development of a credible and coherent body of scientific knowledge. The quality of the published work reflects the competence of the authors and the institutions supporting them. Unram Medical Journal is dedicated to ensuring ethical conduct in all aspects of its editorial and publication processes.

As the publisher, the University of Mataram is committed to maintaining ethical integrity and transparency. Editorial decisions are made independently of advertising or commercial interests. The journal's Editorial Board also facilitates communication with other journals or publishers where necessary to uphold academic standards.

2. Editorial Responsibilities

2.1 Publication Decisions
The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication. This decision is based on the manuscript’s originality, relevance, scientific merit, and reviewer feedback. Editors are guided by the journal’s editorial policies and relevant legal requirements related to copyright, defamation, and plagiarism.

2.2 Fair Play
Manuscripts are evaluated solely on intellectual content, without discrimination based on the author’s race, gender, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

2.3 Confidentiality
The editorial team must maintain confidentiality of all manuscript-related information, disclosing details only to the corresponding author, reviewers, and necessary editorial staff.

2.4 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts in their own research without written permission from the author. Editors should avoid handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

3.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers assist editors in making publication decisions and may also help authors improve their work through constructive feedback.

3.2 Promptness
Reviewers who are unable to complete a review in a timely manner or feel unqualified should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

3.3 Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

3.4 Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism is inappropriate. Comments should be supported by clear arguments.

3.5 Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any relevant prior work not cited and notify editors of any substantial overlap with other publications.

3.6 Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Information obtained during peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers must declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from reviews where impartiality is compromised.

4. Responsibilities of Authors

4.1 Reporting Standards
Authors must present accurate, original accounts of their research. Sufficient detail and references should be provided to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical.

4.2 Data Access and Retention
Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review and retain data for a reasonable period after publication.

4.3 Originality and Plagiarism
Manuscripts must be original. If other works are used, proper citation and permission are required. All manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using Turnitin.

4.4 Multiple or Redundant Publication
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently or publish substantially similar content in multiple venues.

4.5 Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must appropriately acknowledge the work of others and cite influential publications.

4.6 Authorship
Only individuals who made substantial contributions to the study should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final manuscript and its submission.

4.7 Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
Authors must clearly indicate any hazards related to chemicals, procedures, or equipment used. For studies involving humans or animals, ethical approval must be obtained and disclosed.

4.8 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could affect the manuscript’s integrity. All funding sources should be clearly stated.

4.9 Fundamental Errors
If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must notify the journal promptly and cooperate in retracting or correcting the article.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ida Ayu Eka Widiastuti, MD
Editor-in-Chief, Unram Medical Journal