Publication Ethics & Malpractice

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Bone and Soft Tissue Surgery (JBSS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and follows the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to submit original, accurate, and well-documented work. Key ethical requirements include:

  • Originality: Manuscripts must not contain plagiarized material, fabricated data, or falsified results.

  • Exclusivity: Submissions must not be under consideration or previously published elsewhere.

  • Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors, while contributions not qualifying for authorship must be properly acknowledged.

  • Disclosure: Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest and funding sources.

  • Corrections: Authors are obliged to notify the editorial office promptly if significant errors are discovered in their published work.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and quality of the peer-review process. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain confidentiality of the manuscripts under review.

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.

  • Declare any conflicts of interest that may influence their judgment.

  • Refrain from using unpublished material for personal advantage.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are accountable for all content published in JBSS and must:

  • Make decisions based solely on the academic merit of submissions, free from influence by financial, institutional, or personal interests.

  • Ensure a fair and transparent peer-review process.

  • Safeguard the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts.

  • Address ethical concerns promptly and in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Misconduct and Disciplinary Actions

Any form of misconduct—including but not limited to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, image manipulation, salami publication, or duplicate submissions—will be treated as a serious violation of publishing ethics. Cases of suspected misconduct will be investigated following COPE’s recommended procedures. Proven violations may result in actions such as manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, notification of authors’ institutions, and/or a ban on future submissions.

By enforcing this policy, JBSS ensures that the journal serves as a trusted and ethical platform for the dissemination of knowledge in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.