1. Core Ethical Principles
1.1 Transparency and Best Practice
GMR complies with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, jointly endorsed by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME.
1.2 Authorship and Contributorship
• Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contributions.
• All authors share collective responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.
• Policies are in place to prevent disputes regarding authorship and contributorship.
1.3 Peer Review Integrity
• All manuscripts undergo rigorous single-blind peer review.
• Reviewers must respect confidentiality, act with objectivity, and declare conflicts of interest.
• Peer reviewers are expected to follow the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.
1.4 Handling Misconduct
• Allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, redundant publication, or text recycling are investigated according to COPE flowcharts.
• Confirmed cases of misconduct may lead to rejection, retraction, or notification to institutions.
1.5 Retractions and Corrections
• Errors that affect the scholarly record are corrected via errata or corrigenda.
• Misconduct or fundamental flaws lead to retraction, following COPE Retraction Guidelines.
• Expressions of concern may be issued if investigations are pending.
2. Ethical & Integrity Considerations for Evidence Syntheses
2.1 Use of Data, Confidentiality, and Permissions
• GMR publishes systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on previously published studies and does not typically require patient consent.
• Authors must not include identifiable patient information (e.g., faces, names, medical record numbers) unless it is already publicly available in the cited source and permission for reuse is clearly documented where applicable.
• Any reproduced figures, tables, or images must comply with copyright and licensing requirements; authors are responsible for obtaining permissions when needed.
2.2 Editorial Independence
• Editors make decisions based solely on academic merit, without external influence from institutions, funders, or advertisers.
• The publisher does not interfere in editorial decision-making.
2.3 Research Integrity and Collaboration with Institutions
• GMR follows COPE principles when handling suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.
• The journal may contact authors’ institutions, funders, or relevant authorities and share necessary documentation as part of an investigation when required.
3. Support for Editorial Integrity
3.1 Ethical Editing
• Editors are expected to maintain fairness, impartiality, and accountability in decision-making.
• New editorial board members are provided with ethical guidance and resources to ensure consistent standards.
4. GMR Commitment