Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policies*

  1. Policies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed Consent Require declarations of conflicts of interest and adherence to ethical guidelines for human and animal studies.
    • Conflict of Interest:

 

Ghurki Journal of Medical and Health Sciences (GJMHS) upholds transparency and ethical integrity in research publication. A conflict of interest exists when an author, peer reviewer, or editor has financial, professional, or personal affiliations that could unduly influence or appear to influence their work in the publication process.

 

Declaration of Conflict of Interest

 

All authors must explicitly declare any potential conflicts of interest that could affect the objectivity of their research. These may include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Financial support, grants, honorariums, or funding received for the
  • Professional affiliations, memberships, or institutional roles that could influence
  • Personal or professional relationships that may bias the interpretation or reporting of
  • Academic or clinical data ownership rights tied to the study

 

While these competing interests are not necessarily unethical, failing to disclose them may raise concerns about research integrity.

 

Conflict of Interest Statement Submission

 

  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest in the submission statement form at the time of manuscript submission.
  • A conflict of interest statement should also be included at the end of the manuscript before the references.
  • If no conflicts exist, authors should clearly state: "The authors declare no conflict of "

 

By ensuring full disclosure, GJMHS maintains the credibility, transparency, and ethical standards of published research.

 

Human and Animal Research Ethics:

 

Ghurki Journal of Medical and Health Sciences (GJMHS) requires that all research involving human participants strictly adheres to internationally recognized ethical guidelines. Authors must confirm that their study was conducted in compliance with the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki and the ethical standards set by the responsible institutional or national ethics committee.

 

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

 

  • Authors must clearly state in their manuscript whether the research was approved by an Ethical Review Board (ERB) or Institutional Review Board (IRB), including the approval number and institution name.
  • If an institution does not have an ethics committee, approval should be obtained from a recognized external ethics board that adheres to international research ethics guidelines.
  • Informed consent must be obtained from all participants before involvement in the study. In the case of minors or individuals unable to provide consent, permission should be secured from a legal guardian.
  • Researchers must ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained by not disclosing names, initials, hospital numbers, or any other identifying details in the text, images, or supplementary materials.

 

Animal Research Policy

 

GJMHS does not process or publish studies involving animal experiments. Researchers focusing on biomedical sciences should seek alternative platforms for submitting such work.

 

By enforcing these ethical standards, GJMHS ensures that all published research upholds the principles of integrity, participant welfare, and transparency in medical and health sciences.

 

Informed Consent Policy*

Define requirements for obtaining informed consent in studies involving human participants. Informed Consent Policy – Ghurki Journal of Medical and Health Sciences

Ghurki Journal of Medical and Health Sciences (GJMHS) is committed to uphold the highest ethical standards in the use of patient or participant images, case reports, and other identifiable information. Authors must ensure that all relevant permissions, releases, and consent forms are obtained in compliance with applicable data protection and privacy laws before submitting manuscripts containing such materials.

 

Obtaining Informed Consent

 

  • Written informed consent must be obtained from any participant or their legal guardian for the use of identifiable information such as names, photographs, video recordings, audio, or case specifics. This consent must be explicitly granted for the intended use, including publication and potential disclosure of the work.
  • Authors should ensure that participants are fully informed of the purpose for which their data or images will be used and that their consent is voluntarily The written

 

consent must comply with all relevant data protection laws in the participant’s jurisdiction.

  • For minors or individuals who are unable to consent due to special needs or learning disabilities, parental or guardian consent must be obtained. The consent form should specifically address the use of photographs, names, and other personal identifiers.
  • In cases where the parent or guardian of a minor does not agree to the use of photographs or personal information, these images should not be used in the manuscript. Only appropriate images of children, ensuring they are fully clothed, should be used to prevent any misuse of the visuals.
  • The privacy of the individual must always be respected. Even with consent, images or information should be presented in a way that avoids any disparaging or potentially harmful representation of the subject.

 

Publication Requirements

 

  • Authors must provide a statement in the manuscript confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants, or from their parents or guardians for minors, to participate in the study and for the publication of identifiable information.
  • Names, initials, hospital numbers, and other identifiable information should not be used unless absolutely necessary. If used, informed consent must be explicitly granted for such details.
  • Images of patients or research subjects may only be used if essential to the scientific investigation and with the explicit written consent of the subject (or their legal guardian). If consent is granted, any identifying features must be removed if they are not required for the scientific purpose.
  • If there is any ambiguity regarding the anonymity of an image or information, informed consent is required.
  • In cases of completely anonymized images such as X-rays, ultrasound images, or pathology slides, formal consent is not required as long as these images are free of any identifying features and are not accompanied by any text that could lead to identification.
  • It is insufficient to simply anonymize a photo by obscuring the face or other features;

explicit informed consent must be obtained if there is any risk of identification.

 

Compliance with Ethical Guidelines

 

  • Authors should follow the CARE case report writing guidelines to ensure consistency and ethical adherence when reporting on case studies or research involving human
  • The editorial team reserves the right to request documentation of informed consent if there are concerns about compliance.

 

By adhering to these informed consent policies, GJMHS ensures the ethical integrity of research and publication while safeguarding the privacy and dignity of all participants involved.

 

 

 

 

  1. Adherence to Community Standards*

Ensure published research aligns with accepted standards in the scientific community.

GJMHS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and professionalism. All published research must align with recognized ethical, methodological, and reporting standards upheld by the global scientific community.

 

 

  1. Ethics and Malpractice Policy*

Commit to investigating and addressing ethical breaches or misconduct.

 

Ghurki Journal of Medical and Health Sciences (GJMHS) is committed to maintain the highest standards of academic and publication ethics. We ensure integrity throughout the editorial process, involving authors, editors, and reviewers, and uphold ethical principles at every stage of manuscript handling.

 

Responsibilities of Authors:

 

  • Originality and Integrity: Authors must ensure their work is original and not plagiarized. All sources must be properly cited, and appropriate acknowledgment should be given to prior work. Instances of plagiarism or falsification of data will result in immediate rejection or retraction of the manuscript.
  • Dual Submission: Authors must refrain from submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. This practice is prohibited and considered unethical.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research, writing, or publication process, including financial, personal, or professional affiliations.

 

Responsibilities of Editors:

 

  • Impartiality and Decision-Making: Editors make publication decisions solely based on the academic merit of the manuscript. No personal biases, relationships, or external influences will interfere with editorial decisions.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and not use any unpublished data or information for personal gain.
  • Ethical Complaint Handling: Editors are responsible for addressing any ethical complaints concerning submitted or published articles, ensuring a fair and transparent resolution process.

Responsibilities of Reviewers:

 

  • Objective and Constructive Feedback: Reviewers are expected to provide unbiased, constructive, and scholarly feedback on manuscripts. Their evaluations should focus on the quality, relevance, and rigor of the research.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the review process and not share any manuscript details with unauthorized parties.
  • Conflict of Interest and Misconduct: Reviewers should immediately inform the editor of any conflicts of interest, or if they suspect plagiarism, data inconsistencies, or other unethical practices within the manuscript.

 

Addressing Misconduct:

 

GJMHS takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and is committed to thoroughly investigating any concerns while maintaining confidentiality for all involved parties. If misconduct is confirmed, the following measures will be considered:

 

  • Retraction: If necessary, articles may be retracted from
  • Notification to Relevant Authorities: Institutions or organizations linked to the authors may be notified if misconduct is confirmed.
  • Barring from Future Submissions: Authors or reviewers found guilty of serious misconduct may be prohibited from submitting to or reviewing for GJMHS in the future.

 

 

 

 

  1. Conflicts of Interest, Grant Support, and Financial Disclosure Policy*

Mandate disclosure of all financial or non-financial support.

 

All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial or personal, that could improperly influence their work. Such conflicts include, but are not limited to, financial ties such as consultancy fees, stock holdings, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patents or patent applications, and travel grants within the last three years of the submitted work.

Authors should affirm they have no conflicts of interest.

For studies that have received funding from an organization, authors must sign a statement confirming their full access to all study data and their sole responsibility for the data’s validity and analysis. This declaration should be included in the manuscript.

Reviewers are also required to disclose any conflicts of interest with the work they are assigned to evaluate.

This journal publishes any conflicts of interest, grant support, and financial disclosures along with all accepted articles.