Ethics for Editors

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) maintains a transparent and rigorous editorial process founded on ethical publishing principles. Editors must adhere to international ethical standards that promote fairness, confidentiality, and independence in editorial decision-making, ensuring unbiased dissemination of scientific knowledge.

“Editorial ethics are the foundation of a trustworthy and credible scientific publication.”

1. Editorial Integrity and Objectivity

• Editors must ensure all editorial decisions are based on the scientific quality and originality of submissions.
• Decisions should be free from commercial, political, or personal influence.
• All accepted papers must align with the journal’s scope and scientific contribution standards.

2. Confidentiality

• Editors must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.
• Information should only be shared with relevant reviewers or editorial staff involved in the process.
• Confidential information may not be used for personal research or professional advantage.

3. Conflict of Interest

Editors must declare all potential conflicts of interest, including financial, academic, or personal relationships that could bias their judgment. Examples include:

• Handling manuscripts authored by colleagues or collaborators.
• Involvement in research that competes with a submitted work.
• Receiving direct funding or incentives from commercial entities related to the manuscript topic.

4. Peer Review Ethics

• Editors must ensure fair, timely, and objective peer review by selecting appropriate experts.
• Manipulation or favoritism in reviewer selection is unethical.
• Reviewers’ identities and comments must remain confidential.

5. Handling Misconduct and Retractions

Editors are ethically obligated to act upon any suspicion of academic misconduct. In alignment with COPE Flowcharts, editors must:

• Investigate allegations of plagiarism, falsification, or unethical behavior.
• Communicate transparently with authors while maintaining due process.
• Issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions where necessary.

6. Editorial Accountability

Editors are responsible for the content published under their supervision. They must ensure that published materials meet ACEO’s ethical, legal, and academic standards. Accountability extends to correcting errors, updating retracted articles, and ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record.

7. Independence from Publishers

• Editors must maintain autonomy in editorial decisions.
• The publisher’s role is limited to supporting production, archiving, and technical operations.
• No editorial decision may be altered by commercial or marketing considerations.

8. Respectful Communication

Editors must treat all authors and reviewers with professionalism and respect. Communications should be courteous, transparent, and conducted in a timely manner. Discriminatory or biased behavior is strictly prohibited.

9. Transparency in Publication Decisions

• Manuscripts must not be rejected without proper justification.
• Final decisions should include constructive feedback to help authors improve their work.
• Rejected manuscripts must be handled sensitively, ensuring confidentiality.

10. Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal

• Editors must oversee corrections and retractions following ACEO’s Withdrawal Policy.
• Retraction notices should remain permanently accessible with reasons clearly documented.
• Silent or unauthorized deletions are strictly prohibited.

11. Training and Ethical Awareness

Editors are encouraged to participate in continuous education on ethical publishing practices. ACEO supports participation in COPE and WAME workshops, webinars, and certification programs.

12. Ethical Oversight in Emerging Technologies

Editors must ensure that manuscripts employing artificial intelligence, genetic analysis, or medical imaging comply with ethical frameworks and appropriate patient data anonymization standards (e.g., GDPR and HIPAA).

13. Appeals and Complaints

Editors must respond fairly to author appeals or complaints. All appeals should be handled by a separate independent editorial board member to avoid bias.

14. Record-Keeping and Transparency

• Editors must maintain complete documentation of editorial decisions.
• Manuscript handling logs must be securely stored in the OJS platform for audit purposes.

15. Contact Information

16. Conclusion

The Ethics for Editors Policy ensures that the editorial process at ACEO is guided by impartiality, transparency, and respect for scholarly integrity. Adherence to these ethical principles preserves the credibility of the journal and strengthens trust among researchers worldwide.