Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

Thai Journal of Neurological Surgery

Abbreviation: Thai J. Neurol. Surg.

 

The journal adheres to internationally recognized publication ethics and best-practice guidelines (e.g., COPE, ICMJE, and WAME) to ensure that editorial decisions and the publication process are transparent, fair, and accountable, and that the integrity of the scholarly record is maintained. The roles and responsibilities of editors, authors, and reviewers are outlined below.

1) Duties of Editors

  • Oversee the manuscript handling and editorial workflow within the journal’s scope, and manage double-blind peer review in a consistent and timely manner.
  • Make acceptance/rejection decisions based on scholarly merit, methodological rigor, relevance, and significance to the field, without discrimination (e.g., institution, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or beliefs).
  • Maintain the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and submitted manuscripts, including all materials used in editorial evaluation.
  • Disclose and manage conflicts of interest for editors and the editorial team, and recuse themselves from decisions when conflicts exist.
  • Safeguard research integrity by taking reasonable steps to detect and address plagiarism, redundant/duplicate publication, data fabrication, and data falsification.
  • Protect personal data and patient privacy, especially identifiable information (e.g., patient photographs, intraoperative images/videos, and neuroimaging such as CT/MRI), and ensure written consent is obtained when required.
  • Take appropriate post-publication actions to correct the scholarly record when necessary, including Corrections, Retractions, or Expressions of Concern.
  • Handle complaints and disputes transparently. If an issue exceeds the editor’s authority, it will be referred to the editorial board for a decision based on consensus.

2) Duties of Authors

  • Originality: Submissions must be original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration elsewhere (including undisclosed duplicate or redundant submission).
  • Integrity of reporting: Authors must report results accurately and completely and must not engage in data fabrication, data falsification, or plagiarism.
  • Referencing and copyright: Sources must be cited appropriately. Authors must not infringe copyright for text, tables, figures, images, videos, or other content; permissions must be obtained when required.
  • Authorship: Authorship should reflect substantial scholarly contribution. All listed authors must be aware of and agree to the submission and the final version prior to publication.
  • Research ethics: Research involving humans must have approval from an appropriate ethics committee (IRB/EC), and informed consent must be obtained when applicable.
  • Patient privacy: Identifiable patient information must not be published without explicit written permission, particularly for case reports and clinical images/videos.
  • Conflicts of interest and funding: Authors must disclose all conflicts of interest and clearly state funding sources and the funders’ roles (if any).
  • Use of AI tools: If AI or automated tools are used for writing, analysis, or image generation/processing, authors must disclose the scope of use. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the content.
  • Post-publication responsibility: If a significant error is discovered after publication, authors must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing corrections or clarifications.

3) Duties of Reviewers

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively and fairly, focusing on scholarly quality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the field.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality of the manuscript and all associated materials and must not share content without the editor’s permission.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest (e.g., relationships with authors/institutions/funders) that could bias the review, and decline the review when appropriate.
  • Do not use unpublished information, ideas, or results from the manuscript for personal advantage prior to publication.
  • Provide constructive, evidence-based feedback with clear reasoning, and avoid inappropriate or disrespectful language.
  • Inform the editor promptly if they suspect ethical issues such as plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or redundant publication.
  • Submit the review within the agreed timeframe, or notify the editor in advance if unable to do so.

4) Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written request with clear scholarly reasons and supporting evidence (if applicable).
  • The journal will consider appeals fairly and may involve an editor or expert who was not part of the original decision.
  • Complaints regarding publication ethics, editorial conduct, reviewer behavior, or other disputes will be handled transparently according to the journal’s procedures and may be escalated to the editorial board when necessary.

5) Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

  • Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum): Issued when an error materially affects the clarity or accuracy of the article but does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions.
  • Retraction: Issued when findings or conclusions are unreliable due to major error or misconduct (e.g., fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication, or serious ethics non-compliance).
  • Expression of Concern: Issued when there are substantial concerns about reliability, but an investigation is ongoing and a final conclusion has not yet been reached.
  • The journal will publish appropriate notices to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record and will link the notice to the original article when appropriate.

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