Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Pericardiology (JOP) adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all necessary measures to prevent publication malpractice. The journal follows internationally accepted ethical principles to ensure integrity, transparency, and credibility in scholarly publishing related to heart and pericardial studies.

1. Responsibilities of Peer Review

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Conduct objective, constructive, and timely reviews
  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors
  • Report suspected cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical misconduct
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest and decline reviews where conflicts exist

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to JOP must:

  • Submit original work not under consideration elsewhere
  • Present research data accurately and honestly
  • Properly acknowledge all sources and contributors
  • Avoid plagiarism, duplicate publication, and data manipulation
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and sources of funding
  • Ensure ethical approval for research involving human subjects, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent where applicable

3. Plagiarism Policy

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts found to contain significant plagiarism or unethical use of material will be rejected. Confirmed cases of misconduct may result in article retraction and notification of the authors’ affiliated institutions.

4. Patient Privacy and Clinical Ethics

Authors must provide accurate and complete information while safeguarding patient confidentiality. Clinical images, patient data, and case histories must be anonymized, and informed consent must be obtained where required.

5. Conflicts of Interest

Any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research, review, or editorial decision must be disclosed by authors, reviewers, and editors.

6. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

In cases of significant errors, ethical violations, or research misconduct, the journal will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern following transparent and responsible publishing practices.

7. Handling of Misconduct

Allegations of misconduct are handled promptly, fairly, and confidentially. Appropriate actions are taken in accordance with ethical standards in scholarly publishing and clinical research.

8. Accountability and Compliance

By submitting a manuscript to the Journal of Pericardiology, authors agree to comply with this publication ethics policy. The journal reserves the right to take all necessary steps to uphold research integrity and ethical standards.