Conflict of Interest Policy
1. Definition of Conflict of Interest
LebMed.J is committed to maintaining academic integrity and transparency in scientific publishing. A conflict of interest (COI) arises when an individual's financial, professional, or personal relationships could compromise or influence the objectivity of the research, peer review, or editorial decision-making process.
2. Types of Conflicts of Interest
Potential conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Financial conflicts: Receiving funding, grants, or payments from organizations that may benefit from the research findings.
• Personal or professional relationships: Close associations with organizations, collaborators, or competing researchers that may bias the evaluation process.
• Institutional affiliations: Being employed by, or having strong associations with, an entity that has a vested interest in the research outcomes.
• Peer review conflicts: Reviewers or editors having direct competition or collaboration with an author that may affect their judgment.
3. Disclosure Requirements
All authors, reviewers, and editors must:
• Fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest when submitting a manuscript or reviewing an article.
• Include financial disclosures (funding sources, grants, consultancy roles) in the manuscript’s "Conflict of Interest Statement."
• Declare relationships with organizations or individuals that might affect impartiality.
4. Handling Conflict of Interest
If a conflict of interest is identified:
• The editorial team will evaluate its impact on the objectivity of the research or review process.
• Alternative reviewers may be assigned to ensure unbiased evaluation.
• If necessary, the manuscript may be rejected or reassessed to maintain ethical standards.
5. Consequences of Undisclosed Conflicts
Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in:
• Retraction of a published article if integrity concerns arise.
• Institutional notification regarding ethical violations.
• Restrictions on future submissions to LebMed.J.
6. Commitment to Transparency and Ethical Publishing
To ensure fair and ethical research dissemination, LebMed.J requires all contributors to:
• Sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form upon manuscript submission.
• Ensure that all disclosures are included in the published article for transparency.
• Adhere to international ethical publishing guidelines to uphold academic integrity.
LebMed.J remains dedicated to neutral, unbiased scientific research and the highest ethical standards in publication.