Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. The journal adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
“Integrity, transparency, and accountability are fundamental to the credibility of scientific research.”
1. Editorial Responsibilities
The Editorial Board of ACEO ensures that all published material is evaluated based on academic merit, without discrimination regarding gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation. Editors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and ensuring fair peer review.
- Editorial decisions are made solely on scientific merit and ethical compliance.
- Editors must declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
- All editorial activities comply with COPE Core Practices and ICMJE recommendations.
2. Author Responsibilities
Authors must ensure that their work is original, properly cited, and free from unethical practices. They are responsible for accuracy, transparency, and compliance with research ethics standards.
- Manuscripts must not be under simultaneous consideration elsewhere.
- All co-authors should have made a significant contribution to the research.
- Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.
- Authors must disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.
3. Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining publication quality. They are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, confidentially, and within the specified timeframe.
- Reviewers should identify ethical issues or potential misconduct in manuscripts.
- Reviews must remain confidential and not be used for personal advantage.
- Conflicts of interest must be declared prior to review acceptance.
4. Ethical Oversight and Misconduct Handling
ACEO takes allegations of misconduct seriously. Any suspected unethical behavior—such as plagiarism, data manipulation, redundant publication, or authorship disputes—will be investigated according to COPE’s Ethical Oversight Flowcharts.
- Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued as appropriate.
- Institutions and authors will be notified of confirmed misconduct cases.
- Sanctions may include submission bans or reporting to ethics committees.
5. Research Ethics and Consent
All research involving human participants or animals must include ethics approval and informed consent statements.
- Human studies must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki.
- Animal experiments should follow the ARRIVE Guidelines and institutional animal care protocols.
- Patient identity and privacy must be protected in all publications.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Transparency about potential conflicts ensures the objectivity of published work. All parties—authors, reviewers, and editors—must disclose any personal or financial relationships that could influence their judgments.
7. Data Sharing and Transparency
Authors are encouraged to share raw data, protocols, and analytical methods to promote reproducibility. Datasets may be deposited in public repositories with proper citation.
8. Publication Malpractice Policy
Publication malpractice undermines the integrity of science. ACEO strictly prohibits:
- Plagiarism and duplicate publication
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Improper authorship credit or ghostwriting
- Manipulative citation practices (“citation stacking”)
Violations are handled per COPE’s misconduct procedures, with possible sanctions and retractions.
9. Handling of Retractions and Corrections
ACEO issues corrections, retractions, or editorial expressions of concern when necessary. Retraction notices remain permanently available to preserve the scholarly record.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Erratum | Issued for minor content or typographical errors. |
| Retraction | Applied to serious ethical breaches or invalid data. |
| Expression of Concern | Published when investigations are pending. |
10. Publisher Responsibilities
The publisher, IgMin Research Publications, ensures that ACEO adheres to ethical publishing standards, provides robust infrastructure for transparency, and supports investigations when misconduct arises.
11. Confidentiality and Data Protection
Personal data obtained during submission and review is treated confidentially and processed according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
12. Reporting Misconduct
Readers, reviewers, or editors may report ethical concerns directly to:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject Line: “Ethics Concern – [Article Title / DOI]”
13. Transparency and Accountability
ACEO publicly discloses its editorial board members, peer review process, APC policy, and waiver schemes to ensure accountability and trust with its readership.
14. Cross-Referencing and Integrity Tools
- All published articles are assigned a Crossref DOI.
- Plagiarism screening is conducted via iThenticate or Turnitin.
- Metadata complies with OAI-PMH and Schema.org standards for transparency.
Conclusion
ACEO remains steadfast in upholding the integrity of the scientific record through rigorous ethical oversight, transparent editorial practices, and commitment to COPE and ICMJE standards. Upholding ethics is not only a policy but the journal’s enduring responsibility to science and society.