Publication Ethics

The Journal of Antibiotic Development and Clinical Practice (JADCP) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior in research and publishing. Our policies are aligned with the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other international ethical standards. All stakeholders involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers—must adhere to these principles to ensure the integrity, reliability, and quality of the journal.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

1. Originality and Plagiarism:

   • Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
   • Proper acknowledgment must be given to all sources. The journal uses plagiarism detection software to screen submissions, and plagiarized content will result in rejection.

2. Data Integrity:

   • Authors must ensure the accuracy of all data presented in their manuscripts.
   • Falsification, fabrication, or selective reporting of data is considered unethical and will lead to rejection or retraction.

3. Authorship Criteria:

   • Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the study, including its design, execution, analysis, or interpretation.
   • All contributors who meet the criteria for authorship must be listed, and their roles should be specified.
   • Changes to authorship after submission must be approved by all authors and justified to the editorial office.

4. Conflict of Interest:

   • Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation. These disclosures will be published with the article.

5. Ethics Approvals:

   • Research involving humans or animals must comply with international and local ethical standards (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki, ARRIVE guidelines).
   • Authors must provide evidence of ethics committee approval and informed consent where applicable.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Confidentiality:

   • Reviewers must treat all submissions as confidential and must not share or discuss the manuscript with anyone outside the review process.

2. Objectivity and Fairness:

   • Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback provided to improve the manuscript.
   • Personal criticism of authors is not acceptable.

3. Conflict of Interest:

   • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality. If a conflict exists, they should decline the review.

4. Timeliness:

   • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe to ensure the timely processing of manuscripts.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

1. Editorial Independence:

   • Editors have full authority over the editorial content of the journal and the timing of publication.
   • Editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of the manuscript's scholarly merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

2. Confidentiality:

   • Editors must not disclose any information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or publisher.

3. Conflict of Interest:

   • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

4. Publication Decisions:

   • Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted or rejected, based on the peer-review process and the journal’s policies.

Publication Misconduct

JADCP has a zero-tolerance policy for publication misconduct, including but not limited to:

• Plagiarism: The use of another’s work or ideas without proper attribution.
• Data Fabrication and Falsification: Manipulating data to support conclusions.
• Duplicate Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals.
• Improper Authorship: Including individuals as authors who do not meet the authorship criteria.

Actions Against Misconduct:

• If misconduct is detected, the journal will take appropriate actions, including manuscript rejection, retraction, and notification of the authors’ institution or funding body.

Corrections and Retractions

1. Corrections:

   • If errors are identified in a published article that affect its accuracy but not its overall conclusions, the journal will publish a correction notice.

2. Retractions:

   • Articles may be retracted if they are found to involve major ethical violations or contain significant errors that invalidate their findings.
   • Retraction notices will clearly state the reason for the retraction and will remain part of the journal’s permanent record.

Advertising and Sponsorship

• Advertisements must comply with ethical standards and must not influence editorial decisions.
• Sponsorship of articles or issues must be transparent, and any conflicts of interest must be disclosed.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

The journal ensures that all personal data collected during manuscript submission is kept confidential and used solely for publication purposes. Information will not be shared with third parties without explicit consent.

Compliance and Reporting

JADCP encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to report any suspected ethical breaches. Complaints or concerns will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines, ensuring a fair and transparent resolution.

Conclusion

The Journal of Antibiotic Development and Clinical Practice (JADCP) is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in publishing. By adhering to these principles, we aim to foster trust, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of the publication process. For questions regarding publication ethics, please contact the editorial office at [Insert Contact Email].