Ethics and Malpractice Policy

Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS)

Commitment to Ethical Integrity

The Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) is firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and integrity in all aspects of scholarly publishing. As a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published under Axis Exploration & Academics (Private) Limited, AJMBS adheres to the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

This policy outlines the ethical responsibilities of all stakeholders — authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher — to ensure that every submission, review, and publication reflects honesty, originality, and academic responsibility.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

a. Originality and Acknowledgment

  • Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplication.

  • Proper acknowledgment of all sources, collaborators, and funding agencies must be provided.

  • Reuse of previously published data, figures, or text must be cited appropriately and permitted under relevant copyright laws.

b. Data Accuracy and Research Integrity

  • Data must be presented honestly and without any intentional manipulation, omission, or falsification.

  • Authors are expected to retain and provide access to their raw data if requested by the editorial board for verification purposes.

c. Multiple or Redundant Submission

  • Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

  • Republishing the same content in different journals or in multiple languages without appropriate acknowledgment and permission constitutes unethical behavior.

d. Authorship Criteria and Contributions

  • Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the study.

  • All authors must approve the final version before submission and agree to its publication.

e. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

  • Authors are required to disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

  • Disclosure should be made at the time of manuscript submission through a Conflict of Interest Statement.

f. Ethical Approval for Research

  • Studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must include approval from an institutional ethics review board or relevant authority.

  • A statement of ethical approval and informed consent must be clearly mentioned within the manuscript.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

a. Fair and Objective Decision-Making

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on the manuscript’s scholarly merit, relevance, and scientific value — not influenced by the authors’ gender, nationality, religion, or institutional affiliation.

b. Confidentiality and Data Protection

  • Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding all manuscripts received and must not disclose any information to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or editorial advisers as appropriate.

c. Managing Conflicts of Interest

  • Editors should avoid handling papers in which they have conflicts of interest and must delegate such decisions to another qualified editorial board member.

d. Addressing Misconduct and Corrections

  • If ethical issues arise — including plagiarism, authorship disputes, or data manipulation — editors are responsible for initiating investigations in accordance with COPE guidelines.

  • When errors are detected in published articles, AJMBS will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as necessary to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

a. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

  • Reviewers must provide objective, clear, and evidence-based evaluations that contribute to improving the quality of the manuscript.

  • Personal criticism or unsubstantiated remarks are discouraged.

b. Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts received for review are confidential and must not be discussed, shared, or used for personal advantage.

c. Conflict of Interest

  • Reviewers should promptly disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality and must decline to review if such conflicts exist.

d. Ethical Vigilance

  • If reviewers suspect plagiarism, duplicate publication, or data fabrication, they should report these concerns to the editorial office immediately.

e. Timeliness

  • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the assigned timeframe to ensure an efficient editorial process.

4. Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct

  • AJMBS treats all allegations of ethical misconduct with utmost seriousness.

  • Investigations will be conducted confidentially, fairly, and in line with COPE’s recommended procedures.

  • Depending on the outcome, actions may include:

    • Retraction or correction of the published article

    • Notification of the author’s affiliated institution or funding body

    • Temporary or permanent suspension of the author’s future submissions

  • All steps taken will be documented to ensure transparency and fairness.

5. Publisher’s Responsibility

  • Axis Exploration & Academics (Private) Limited ensures that the editorial independence of AJMBS is respected and that no external influence compromises the publication’s integrity.

  • The publisher supports editors and reviewers in handling ethical issues and provides mechanisms for correcting the scientific record when necessary.

6. Policy Enforcement and Continuous Improvement

  • This Ethics and Malpractice Policy is reviewed periodically to align with updated COPE and ICMJE recommendations.

  • All participants in the publication process are expected to familiarize themselves with and uphold these standards.

  • Non-compliance may lead to corrective or disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the editorial board.

Conclusion

Through this comprehensive ethical framework, Axis Journal of Medical and Biosocial Sciences (AJMBS) reaffirms its commitment to fostering an environment of integrity, transparency, and trust in scientific publishing. Upholding these standards safeguards the credibility of the research community and strengthens the journal’s contribution to global knowledge.