Complaints and Appeals

In line with the principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing, as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), this policy details the process for handling complaints and appeals related to authorship, contributions, and any other issues in published works. As an open-access journal applying the CC-BY license, authors retain the copyright over their articles while granting broad permissions for distribution and reuse. This journal adheres to the Core Practices outlined by COPE.

Authorship and Contributions
Authorship of scholarly articles must reflect substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. To qualify as an author, individuals must meet the following criteria:

- Substantial Contribution: Authors should make significant intellectual contributions to the article, such as research conception or design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and drafting or revising the manuscript for important intellectual content.
- Approval of the Final Version: All authors must approve the final version of the article and agree to take responsibility for its content.
- Accountability: Authors must be prepared to explain and defend their research findings in public forums, if required.

To foster transparency and prevent misunderstandings, authors may be asked to submit a contribution statement with their manuscript. This statement should clearly define each author’s specific role in the research. The statement will not be published but is required to ensure proper attribution.

Disputes and Disagreements Regarding Authorship
In the event of disputes or disagreements about authorship, the editorial board will follow a structured process to investigate and resolve the issue. The involved parties will be asked to provide evidence of their contributions to the research. If necessary, the editorial board may seek guidance from COPE or other relevant organizations to ensure a fair and impartial resolution. Personal disputes between authors will not be handled by the editorial board.

Requests for Changes in Authorship
Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after manuscript submission will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Such requests must be supported by written explanations from all involved authors, detailing the reasons for the changes. The editorial board will evaluate these requests carefully and may consult with journal advisors or refer to COPE guidelines if needed.

Honorary and Ghost Authorship
Honorary authorship (gift authorship) and ghost authorship (uncredited contributions) are strictly prohibited. Individuals who contribute only minorly to the research or article should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section but will not be listed as authors. The journal takes active measures to prevent and address instances of honorary and ghost authorship.

Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their research. This includes financial interests, affiliations, or personal relationships that may compromise the impartiality and credibility of the work. Full transparency in these disclosures is encouraged to maintain the integrity of the research.

Ethical Guidelines
Authors are required to adhere to the ethical guidelines and standards that apply to their field of research. This includes obtaining appropriate permissions for the use of copyrighted materials, securing informed consent from human subjects, and ensuring ethical treatment of animals in research.

Review and Updates
This authorship policy will be reviewed and updated periodically in response to changes in scholarly publishing practices and recommendations from relevant organizations. Any revisions to this policy will be promptly communicated to authors and published on the journal's website.