Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Pericardiology (JOP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing publication malpractice. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical principles and adheres to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity, transparency, and credibility in scholarly publishing related to cardiovascular and pericardial research.

All participants involved in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to follow these ethical standards and contribute to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.

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.