MSD Publications - Ethical Policies

Science publication is a critical process in which many people and processes involved. MSD Publications intended to uphold the integrity of publications; hence, we request our contributors, editors, reviewers and people involved in various stages of publication to follow the ethical guidelines to improve the value of academic publishing.

Publishers

• MSD Publications committed to integrate the research communities
• Encourage the editorial independence to run the journals
• Encourage transparent editorial and review activities
• We follow academic ethics in publication, corrections and retractions of articles whenever necessary
• We allow editors and reviewers to act independently in making decisions
• We never encourage geographical, racial, gender difference rather scientific merit

Authors

• Authors ensure that their work is original
• Authors make sure that the work has not been published and not under consideration
• The work does not infringe any intellectual property rights and or privacy
• Authors ensure that their data is not manipulated
• Should mention the authorship, contributions, affiliation etc
• Authors should also include the funding sources under acknowledgements
• Authors need to mention conflicts of interest if any
• They should also mention commercial or financial benefits if any
• Authors ensure that the material extracted is properly cited
• Need to provide the ethical committee approval in case of human/animal studies
• Patient consent should be provided upon request
• Authors make sure that the paper is complete and all supporting material is included

Reviewers

• We encourage reviewers to scrutinize the paper based on scientific merit but not based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenry or political values of authors
• Conflict of the interest if any with any given manuscript should be communicated with the editor
• Should maintain the confidentiality
• Making decisions fair and impartial
• Should have self code of conduct

Editors

• Should prepare the journal ethical policies and promote among reviewers and editors
• Should make fair and transparent decisions
• Should notify potential conflict if any
• Decisions must be given based on the scientific merit but not based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenry or political values of authors
• Select reviewers and other editorial board members based on academic merit
• Maintain confidentiality and may disclose the information to the appropriate people
• Maintain the highest level of integrity and standards