Publication Ethics of Annals of Clinical and Experimental Neurology are based on the Code of Conduct for journal editors developed by the Committee on publication ethics (COPE – http://publicationethics.org/) (2011) (http://publicationethics.org/files/Code%20of%20Conduct_2.pdf), PEMS
General duties and responsibilities of editors
Editors are accountable for everything published in their journals: Editors strive to meet the needs of readers and author and to constantly improve their journal; editors have processes in place to assure the quality of the material they publish; editors preclude business needs from compromising intellectual and ethical standards; editors will always be willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies when needed.
Relations with readers
Readers are always informed about who has funded research or other scholarly work and whether the funders had any role in the research and its publication and, if so, what this was.
Relations with authors
3.1. Editors’ decisions to accept or reject a paper for publication is based on the paper’s importance, originality and clarity, and the study’s validity and its relevance to the remit of the journal.
3.2. Editors do not reverse decisions to accept submissions unless serious problems are identified with the submission.
3.3. A description of peer review processes is published. In case of any important deviation from the described processes editors should be ready to justify any important deviation from the described processes.
3.4. A declared mechanism for authors to appeal against editorial decisions is available for authors.
3.5. A guidance to authors is published and regularly updated.
3.6. Сriteria for authorship are provided in “Guidance for authors”.
Relations with reviewers
Editors provide guidance to reviewers on everything that is expected of them including the need to handle submitted material in confidence. This guidance should be regularly updated and should refer or link to this code. Editors require reviewers to disclose any potential competing interests before agreeing to review a submission. Editors have systems to ensure that peer reviewers’ identities are protected.
Relations with editorial board members
Editors provide new editorial board members with guidelines on everything that is expected of them and keep existing members updated on new policies and developments.
Relations with journal owners and publishers
The relationship of editors to publishers is based on the principle of editorial independence. Editors make decisions on which articles to publish based on quality and suitability for the journal and without interference from the journal publisher.
Editorial and peer review processes
Editors strive to ensure that peer review at their journal is fair, unbiased and timely. Editors have systems to ensure that material submitted to their journal remains confidential while under review.
Protecting individual data
Editors must obey laws on confidentiality in their own jurisdiction. Regardless of local statutes, however, they should always protect the confidentiality of individual information obtained in the course of research or professional interactions (e.g. between doctors and patients). It is therefore almost always necessary to obtain written informed consent for publication from people who might recognise themselves or be identified by others (e.g. from case reports or photographs).
Encouraging ethical research (e.g. research involving humans or animals)
Editors ensure that research they publish was carried out according to the relevant internationally accepted guidelines (e.g. the Declaration of Helsinki for clinical research, the AERA and BERA guidelines for educational research). Editors seek assurances that all research has been approved by an appropriate body (e.g. research ethics committee, institutional review board) where one exists.
Dealing with possible misconduct
Editors have a duty to act if they suspect misconduct or if an allegation of misconduct is brought to them. This duty extends to both published and unpublished papers. Editors will first seek a response from those suspected of misconduct. If they are not satisfied with the response, they will ask the relevant employers, or institution, or some appropriate body (perhaps a regulatory body or national research integrity organization) to investigate.
Ensuring the integrity of the academic record
Errors, inaccurate or misleading statements must be corrected promptly and with due prominence.
Intellectual property
Editors work with their publisher to handle potential breaches of intellectual property laws and conventions.
Encouraging debate
Editors will consider cogent criticisms of work published in their journal. Authors of criticised material will be given the opportunity to respond.
Conflicts of interest
Editors have systems for managing their own conflicts of interest as well as those of their staff, authors, reviewers and editorial board members.
