Research Ethics and Publication Integrity Policy

Medvix Publications

Medvix Publications is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity, ethical publishing, and transparency. This policy applies to all journals published by Medvix Publications and is guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other recognized international guidelines.

1. Ethical Approval and Research Conduct

• All research involving human participants must receive approval from an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.

• Authors must clearly state the name of the ethics committee and approval reference number in the manuscript.

• Informed consent must be obtained from all participants, and privacy and confidentiality must be protected.

• Studies involving animals must comply with institutional, national, or international animal care and use guidelines.

• Research must be conducted honestly, responsibly, and transparently.

2. Authorship and Contributions

• Authorship should reflect substantial scholarly contribution to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the study.

• All listed authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

• Any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all authors.

• Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria must be acknowledged appropriately.

3. Conflicts of Interest

• Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, personal, or institutional conflicts of interest.

• If no conflicts exist, authors must state:
  “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

4. Data Integrity, Transparency, and Reproducibility

• Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.

• Authors may be requested to provide raw data or supporting documentation for editorial review.

• Data sharing is encouraged to promote reproducibility and transparency in research

5. Corrections (Errata)

A correction will be issued when errors are identified that do not invalidate the study’s findings, such as:

• Typographical or formatting errors

• Incorrect author names or affiliations

• Minor data or figure errors

Corrections will be:

• Clearly labeled and linked to the original article

• Freely accessible

• Permanently available and citable

6. Retractions

An article may be retracted if:

• Findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest error

• Plagiarism or duplicate publication is confirmed

• Ethical approval or informed consent was not obtained

• Data fabrication or falsification is discovered

Retraction notices will:

• Clearly state the reason for retraction

• Remain permanently linked to the original article

• Not remove the article, but mark it clearly as Retracted

7. Editorial Expressions of Concern

An Editorial Expression of Concern may be issued when:

• Serious ethical or scientific concerns have been raised

• An investigation is ongoing or unresolved

• Evidence is inconclusive, or institutional responses are delayed

This ensures transparency while investigations are completed.

8. Appeals and Investigations

• Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation and supporting evidence.

• All investigations are conducted confidentially, fairly, and objectively.

• Final decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief in line with ethical standards.

9. Publisher Responsibility

Medvix Publications is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. All corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are handled transparently and in accordance with international ethical guidelines.