Ethics and Malpractice

Ethics and Malpractice

Indian Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (IIJFMT) adheres to the highest ethical standards as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher, are expected to uphold these standards, ensuring integrity and transparency in all aspects of the journal's operation.

Authorship:

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research presented in the manuscript. All co-authors should be involved in drafting or revising the manuscript and must approve the final version before submission. Any changes in authorship, including additions, deletions, or rearrangements, must be approved by all authors and justified to the journal. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors meet these criteria and that no inappropriate co-authors are listed.

Plagiarism:

Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cited if it incorporates the work or ideas of others. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. If a paper is found to be plagiarized or involves duplicate publication, it will be retracted, and the author's institution may be notified.

Duplicate Publication:

Manuscripts submitted to IIJFMT must not be under consideration or published elsewhere. Duplicate publication, where a manuscript shares similar hypotheses, methods, or results with another published work, is considered unethical and is not permitted.

Fabrication of Data:

The falsification or manipulation of data is a serious ethical violation. Authors must present accurate data and acknowledge any limitations or uncertainties in their research.

Citation Manipulation:

Only relevant citations should be included in the manuscript. Self-citation or excessive citation to improve citation metrics is discouraged and may be considered unethical.

Ethics Approval:

Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical guidelines, including obtaining approval from relevant ethics committees. For human subjects, authors must follow the Declaration of Helsinki, and for animal experiments, the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. Informed consent must be obtained from all human participants or their guardians. Authors should clearly state in their manuscript that ethical approval has been granted.

Intellectual Property Rights:

Authors must respect intellectual property rights and ensure that their research materials and methods are legally sourced and appropriately used.

Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure:

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and acknowledge all sources of financial or logistical support for their research.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works:

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the journal's editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.

Review Process

The Indian Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (IIJFMT) follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process, where the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed. Manuscripts are evaluated by at least two reviewers, including members of the Editorial Advisory Board, based on scientific quality, ethical standards, and relevance to the journal's scope. The review process typically takes 2 to 3 months, and decisions on acceptance, rejection, or revision are communicated to the authors accordingly.

Galley proofs of accepted manuscripts are sent to the corresponding author for final review and correction. Authors are expected to return the corrected proofs within 3 days to avoid delays in publication.

Peer Review

The peer review process is critical to maintaining the quality and integrity of the research published in IIJFMT. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and are required to evaluate manuscripts objectively, provide constructive feedback, and identify any ethical issues or potential conflicts of interest. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the review process, and reviewers are not allowed to use information gained during the review for personal advantage.

Copyright and Disclaimer

By submitting a manuscript to IIJFMT, authors agree to transfer copyright to the publisher upon acceptance of their work. The journal assumes no responsibility for any legal claims, including defamation, intellectual property infringement, or product liability, arising from the content of published articles. Authors are encouraged to secure patents for new inventions prior to publication.

The publisher and editors disclaim any liability for injuries, damages, or legal actions resulting from the use of materials published in the journal.