Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

The RBC Journal of Sociology of Health and Illness is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. All authors, reviewers, and editors associated with the journal are expected to adhere to these standards.

1. Authorship and Contribution:

   • All listed authors must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work and approve the final version of the manuscript.

   • Gift authorship (listing authors who did not contribute) and ghost authorship (excluding contributors) are strictly prohibited.

2. Originality and Plagiarism:

   • Manuscripts submitted must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.

   • Plagiarism, including copying text, data, or ideas without proper attribution, is strictly prohibited. The journal uses plagiarism detection tools to ensure originality.

3. Data Integrity and Reporting:

   • Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of data, results, and conclusions.

   • Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data is unacceptable.

4. Conflict of Interest:

   • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its evaluation.

5. Peer Review Ethics:

   • The journal follows a rigorous and confidential peer review process.

   • Reviewers are expected to provide unbiased, constructive feedback while maintaining confidentiality of the manuscript.

6. Corrections and Retractions:

   • The journal is committed to correcting the scientific record when necessary.

   • Errors, misconduct, or ethical breaches discovered after publication will be addressed promptly through corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as appropriate.

7. Editorial Responsibility:

   • Editors are responsible for making unbiased decisions based solely on scholarly merit.

   • The editorial team ensures that the journal upholds ethical standards, complies with international guidelines, and prevents unethical practices.

8. Compliance with International Standards:

   • The journal adheres to the principles outlined by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE, and other recognized international guidelines for ethical publishing.