Authors are strongly advised to adhere strictly to the ethical terms and conditions. The Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal follows the COPE guidelines, and respectful authors are encouraged to do the same. Below is a brief list of major ethical considerations.
Conflict of Interest:
- Authors should disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their research or interpretation of results.
Authorship and Contributions:
- Clearly define authorship criteria.
- Acknowledge the contributions of all individuals involved in the study.
- Avoid ghostwriting or honorary authorship.
Data Integrity and Reproducibility:
- Maintain accurate data records.
- Make data available for verification.
- Reproducibility is crucial for scientific integrity.
Informed Consent:
- Authors must obtain informed consent from human subjects participating in research studies.
- This involves disclosing the study’s purpose, potential risks, and benefits to participants.
Animal Research Ethics:
- If the study involves animal experiments, authors should adhere to ethical guidelines for animal welfare.
- Proper care, humane treatment, and minimizing suffering are essential.
Plagiarism and Originality:
- Authors must submit original work and avoid plagiarism.
- Properly cite all sources and give credit to previous research.
Ethical Approval:
- Obtain ethical approval from relevant institutional review boards (IRBs) or ethics committees if the study involves human subjects.
Patient Privacy and Confidentiality:
- Protect patient privacy by avoiding the use of identifiable information without proper consent.
- Anonymize data whenever possible.
Reporting Guidelines:
- Follow relevant reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT for clinical trials, STROBE for observational studies) to ensure transparent reporting.
Publication Ethics:
- Adhere to the CC-BY-NC 4.0 policies for copyright and redistribution.
- Consult the COPE guidelines for necessary regulations related to ethical codes.