About Ethics Statement Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology
The Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior at all stages of the publication process, from submission to publication. Our policies are designed to ensure integrity, transparency, and respect for ethical principles in research and publication. This ethics statement applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, ensuring that all participants uphold these standards.
1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
- Originality and Plagiarism: Authors are expected to submit original research and avoid any form of plagiarism. Proper attribution and citation of others' work are mandatory.
- Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that all data presented in their work are accurate, honestly obtained, and properly documented. Manipulation or falsification of data is strictly prohibited.
- Authorship: Only those who have made significant contributions to the study, data analysis, and writing process should be listed as authors. All authors must agree to the submitted version of the manuscript and be accountable for its content.
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could affect the interpretation of their research.
- Ethical Approval and Informed Consent: Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with relevant ethical guidelines and obtain appropriate institutional approval. Informed consent must be obtained for any identifiable information, and authors must respect participant privacy.
2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
- Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and avoid sharing or discussing them with unauthorized individuals.
- Objective Evaluation: Reviews should be conducted objectively, focusing on the manuscript’s content, originality, and contribution to the field. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.
- Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should inform the editor of any conflicts of interest that might influence their judgment and decline the review if necessary.
- Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations in a timely manner, helping to ensure a prompt decision-making process for authors.
3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors
- Editorial Independence: Editors have full authority over the editorial content and publication decisions, ensuring they remain free from external influence or bias.
- Fairness: Manuscripts are evaluated based solely on their intellectual content, without regard to the author’s race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
- Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and not use unpublished materials for their research without explicit written consent from the authors.
- Addressing Ethical Misconduct: Editors are responsible for investigating ethical complaints, including allegations of plagiarism or falsification. Proven cases of misconduct will result in appropriate actions, such as manuscript retraction or notification to the author’s institution.
4. Handling Misconduct
The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously. Any breach of ethical standards, whether reported by authors, reviewers, or editors, will be investigated thoroughly following COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Appropriate actions, including corrections, retractions, or reporting to institutional authorities, will be taken when necessary.
5. Transparency and Integrity
The Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology promotes transparency by providing detailed descriptions of methodologies and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. We support the ethical reporting of research, ensuring that all publications are in line with the highest standards of scholarly integrity.
