Introduction

Medical Channel Journal (MCJ) is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record and maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal takes all allegations of research misconduct seriously and investigates them promptly, fairly, and confidentially. MCJ follows the guidance and COPE Flowcharts for handling ethical concerns and misconduct throughout the editorial and publication process.

Scope of Research Misconduct

The journal considers, but is not limited to, the following as research misconduct:

• Plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

• Data fabrication or data falsification.

• Image manipulation or inappropriate data presentation.

• Duplicate or redundant publication.

• Unethical research involving human participants or animals.

• Undisclosed conflicts of interest.

• Authorship disputes, gift authorship, or ghost authorship.

• Citation manipulation and peer-review manipulation.

Investigation Procedure

When an allegation of misconduct is received, the Editorial Office will:

• Conduct a preliminary assessment of the allegation.

• Request an explanation and supporting documentation from the author(s), where appropriate.

• Evaluate all available evidence objectively and confidentially.

• Follow the COPE Flowcharts and guidance to ensure a fair and transparent investigation.

• Consult reviewers, editors, or the authors' affiliated institutions when necessary.

• Reach an editorial decision based on the available evidence and established ethical standards.

Editorial Actions

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may:

• Request manuscript revisions or clarifications.

• Reject the manuscript.

• Publish a correction or expression of concern.

• Retract the published article.

• Notify the authors' institutions, funding agencies, or relevant authorities when serious misconduct is confirmed.

• Restrict future submissions from authors found responsible for serious ethical violations.

Author Responsibilities

Before submitting a manuscript, authors must carefully read and comply with the journal's Author Guidelines, Publication Ethics Policy, and all related editorial policies. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that their work is original, ethically conducted, accurately reported, and fully complies with the ethical standards of Medical Channel Journal.

Policy Commitment

Medical Channel Journal is committed to addressing allegations of research misconduct in a timely, impartial, and transparent manner. By following internationally recognized COPE recommendations and ethical best practices, the journal seeks to preserve the credibility, reliability, and integrity of the scientific literature.