Editorial Policies
- Creative Commons License
- Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
- COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
- Publisher Policies
- Editorial Process
- COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
- Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
- Editorial Policies
- Advertisement Policies
- Peer Review Process
1. Creative Commons License
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal adopts the Creative Commons (CC) license for its publications. Specifically, the journal uses the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows authors to retain the copyright of their work while enabling others to freely share, distribute, and build upon the research. Under this license, users can reproduce, distribute, or adapt the content for non-commercial purposes, as long as appropriate credit is given to the original author(s).
This open-access model increases the reach and impact of research by making it freely available to the global scientific community and the public. Authors benefit from retaining full rights to their work, giving them the flexibility to share or republish their content elsewhere without restrictions, provided they comply with the CC BY license.
The Creative Commons License facilitates broader dissemination of research findings and ensures that knowledge in pathology and laboratory medicine is accessible to researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers worldwide.
2. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal adheres to high ethical standards for all stages of the publication process, including manuscript submission, peer review, and post-publication. The journal follows the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to prevent and address any form of research misconduct, including plagiarism, falsification, and fabrication of data.
In cases of ethical concerns such as inappropriate authorship, conflicts of interest, or plagiarism, the journal investigates and takes corrective actions, including issuing retractions or corrections. The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the published research and the credibility of the scientific community. The ethics statement is designed to protect both the rights of the authors and the journal's readers by ensuring that all content meets rigorous standards of truth and transparency.
3. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (Specific to Editors)
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal follows the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in managing conflicts of interest (COI) for editors. Editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the content they handle or the authors involved in the review process. These conflicts could be financial, personal, or professional and may affect editorial decision-making.
In order to maintain the objectivity of the editorial process, editors are prohibited from handling manuscripts where they have a direct financial or personal stake in the outcome. If a conflict of interest is identified, the editor must recuse themselves from the decision-making process, and an alternative editor will be appointed to ensure unbiased evaluation of the manuscript. The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal strives to uphold the highest standards of impartiality and fairness in the review process.
4. Publisher Policies
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal is committed to maintaining transparent and ethical publisher policies. These policies include adherence to international publishing standards, the provision of open-access publication, and the assurance of high-quality, peer-reviewed content. The journal ensures that the publication process is fair and transparent, offering authors clear guidelines on manuscript submission, peer review, and post-publication corrections.
Additionally, the journal works in alignment with industry best practices to ensure the integrity and quality of published research. This includes strict adherence to ethical research guidelines, anti-plagiarism measures, and an open-access model that encourages the free dissemination of scientific findings. The publisher also actively participates in initiatives that promote data sharing, transparency, and reproducibility in scientific research.
5. Editorial Process
The editorial process for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal follows a rigorous and transparent system to ensure the publication of high-quality research. The process begins with manuscript submission, where authors are required to submit their work through the online submission system. The journal’s editorial team then conducts an initial review to assess the manuscript’s relevance and adherence to submission guidelines.
Once the manuscript passes the initial review, it is sent to peer reviewers who are experts in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine. Peer reviewers evaluate the quality, validity, and significance of the research, providing feedback and recommendations for revisions. The editor-in-chief, based on reviewers' feedback, makes the final decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection. If accepted, the manuscript proceeds to publication.
The journal also follows ethical guidelines for handling conflicts of interest and maintaining transparency throughout the editorial process.
6. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to prevent and address plagiarism. Manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo thorough plagiarism screening using industry-standard software to detect any similarity with previously published works.
Any manuscript found to have significant instances of plagiarism, whether from other publications or self-plagiarism, will be rejected. If plagiarism is identified after publication, the journal will issue a retraction or correction based on the severity of the misconduct. Authors are expected to cite all sources appropriately and ensure the originality of their research.
The journal emphasizes the importance of academic integrity and follows COPE’s recommendations to handle cases of plagiarism with transparency and accountability, maintaining the credibility of the publication process.
7. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (Specific to Editors)
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal requires editors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from their professional relationships or financial interests. This includes disclosing any personal or financial relationships with authors, institutions, or industries that may influence editorial decisions.
Editors must ensure that their editorial duties are performed impartially, and they must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists. The journal actively manages these disclosures to maintain transparency and objectivity. Editors are also encouraged to disclose their financial and non-financial interests in the journal, such as funding sources, board memberships, or affiliations that may pose a conflict.
The goal is to preserve the integrity of the editorial process, ensuring that all decisions are made based on the scientific merit of the manuscript and not influenced by personal or financial interests.
8. Editorial Policies
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal has clear editorial policies that guide every aspect of the publishing process. These policies include ethical standards for manuscript submission, the peer review process, conflict of interest management, and procedures for handling corrections, retractions, and withdrawals. The editorial board is committed to maintaining high standards of scientific integrity, transparency, and impartiality.
The journal also adheres to international standards for the ethical conduct of research and publication, such as the Declaration of Helsinki for clinical studies and guidelines for the humane treatment of animals in research. Editorial decisions are based on the scientific quality and originality of the manuscript, and the journal upholds a commitment to providing high-quality content for the pathology and laboratory medicine community.
9. Advertisement Policies
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal adheres to clear advertisement policies to maintain the integrity of the content published. Advertisements are accepted within the journal, but they must not influence editorial decisions or the scientific content of the journal. All advertisements must comply with ethical standards and relevant laws, ensuring that they do not mislead or misinform readers.
The journal strives to ensure that advertisements do not conflict with the scientific nature of the content. Advertisers must clearly distinguish promotional material from editorial content, and the journal reserves the right to reject advertisements that are deemed inappropriate or misleading.
10. Peer Review Process
The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure objectivity and impartiality in manuscript evaluation. In this system, both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other, which helps eliminate bias based on the author's identity, institution, or geographic location.
When a manuscript is submitted, it is first evaluated by the journal’s editorial team for basic quality and relevance. If the manuscript meets these initial criteria, it is sent out to expert reviewers in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine. These peer reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s scientific merit, methodology, data interpretation, and overall contribution to the field. They provide feedback on the manuscript, suggesting revisions or recommending rejection based on their assessment.
After receiving reviewer feedback, the editorial team makes the final decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection. Authors are informed of the decision, and they are provided with constructive comments from the reviewers. If revisions are required, authors are expected to address the reviewers’ concerns and resubmit the manuscript for further evaluation.
The peer review process is a vital component of the journal’s commitment to ensuring the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine.
These guidelines and policies contribute to the integrity and quality of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine journal, ensuring that published content is scientifically rigorous, ethically sound, and transparently managed.
