Journal Medical Libanais (JML) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, ethical publishing, and academic excellence. The journal takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and investigates them fairly, objectively, confidentially, and without bias. The journal follows the recommendations and COPE Flowcharts published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when handling suspected cases of research misconduct.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and readers are encouraged to report any suspected misconduct associated with submitted or published manuscripts. All allegations are treated confidentially, and appropriate action is taken based on the available evidence.

Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism.
• Self-plagiarism or redundant publication.
• Duplicate or simultaneous submission.
• Data fabrication or falsification.
• Image manipulation or inappropriate image enhancement.
• Citation manipulation.
• Authorship disputes or inappropriate authorship (guest, gift, or ghost authorship).
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
• Ethical approval fraud.
• Failure to obtain informed consent where required.
• Peer review manipulation.
• Submission of false or misleading information.
• Any other unethical practice that compromises the integrity of the scholarly record.

Reporting Allegations

Allegations of research misconduct may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, or other stakeholders. Reports should include sufficient evidence or supporting information to allow the Editorial Office to conduct an appropriate investigation.

All allegations will be handled confidentially, and the identities of individuals involved will be protected to the greatest extent possible.

Investigation Process

Upon receiving an allegation, the Editorial Office will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the concern has sufficient merit to warrant further investigation. If necessary, additional information or clarification may be requested from the authors, reviewers, complainants, or affiliated institutions.

Investigations are conducted fairly, impartially, and confidentially in accordance with the COPE Flowcharts and internationally accepted publication ethics standards. During the investigation, manuscript processing or publication may be suspended until the matter has been resolved.

Editorial Actions

Depending on the findings of the investigation, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request clarification or additional documentation from the authors.
• Request revision or correction of the manuscript.
• Reject the manuscript.
• Suspend or terminate the peer review process.
• Publish a correction or corrigendum.
• Publish an Expression of Concern.
• Retract the published article.
• Notify the authors' institution, funding agency, or relevant regulatory authority where appropriate.
• Prohibit future submissions from authors found to have committed serious or repeated research misconduct.

Editorial actions will be proportionate to the nature and severity of the misconduct and will always aim to preserve the integrity of the scientific record.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Read and comply with the journal's Author Guidelines, publication ethics policies, and submission requirements before submitting a manuscript.
• Submit only original, accurate, and ethically conducted research.
• Obtain all necessary ethical approvals and informed consent where applicable.
• Properly acknowledge all sources and contributors.
• Disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest.
• Cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by the journal.
• Promptly notify the Editorial Office if significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after submission or publication.

Failure to comply with these responsibilities may result in editorial action in accordance with this policy.

Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to report any suspected misconduct identified during the editorial or peer review process. They must maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation and avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise an impartial assessment.

Compliance with COPE Guidance

Journal Medical Libanais follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Flowcharts and recommendations when investigating and resolving allegations of research misconduct. Editorial decisions are guided by fairness, transparency, due process, and evidence-based assessment, ensuring that all parties are treated respectfully and impartially.

For detailed guidance on publication ethics and research misconduct procedures, please refer to the COPE Flowcharts and Guidance available at:

https://publicationethics.org/guidance

Through this policy, Journal Medical Libanais reaffirms its commitment to promoting responsible research, protecting the integrity of the scholarly record, and maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing in accordance with COPE, ICMJE, and internationally accepted best practices.