Publication ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine (JAHM) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and ensuring integrity in all stages of the publishing process. This statement is based on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Core Practices, the ICMJE Recommendations, and the WAME guidelines.

These guidelines are in compliance with the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice Guidelines and the COPE Code of Conduct (https://publicationethics.org/core-practices).

COPE & Integrity Statement

JAHM is committed to publication ethics as per COPE Core Practices.

  • Allegations of misconduct are investigated as per COPE flowcharts.
  • Retractions, corrections, and expressions of concern will be issued transparently.
  • The journal promotes research integrity, reproducibility, and responsible conduct.

Our commitment to publication ethics encompasses several key principles:

  1. Integrity: We prioritize honesty, integrity, and transparency in all aspects of publishing. We expect authors, reviewers, and editors to uphold these principles throughout the research and publication process.
  2. Fairness: We ensure fair and unbiased treatment of all submitted manuscripts, regardless of the authors' background, affiliation, or status. Manuscripts are evaluated based on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal's scope.
  3. Confidentiality: We maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts and associated correspondence. Confidential information is safeguarded throughout the peer review process and beyond.
  4. Authorship and Attribution: We require that all individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are listed as authors. Proper attribution of sources and contributions is essential, and any conflicts of interest or potential conflicts must be disclosed.
  5. Plagiarism and Publication Malpractices: We have a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism, fraudulent data, and other publication malpractices. Manuscripts found to contain unethical practices will be promptly rejected or retracted, and appropriate actions will be taken against authors, including notification of their institutions and funding agencies.
  6. Editorial Independence: We uphold the editorial independence of JAHM and ensure that editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific merit of the manuscripts, without interference from external influences. The editor will make the final decision regarding acceptance and publishing of the articles submitted. The decisions will be made after strict editorial and peer review of the article.
  7. Retractions: Retraction is considered due to errors, inaccuracies, plagiarism, duplication, fabrication or falsification of data, unethical research practices, or copyright infringement. Upon investigation, authors are notified and given an opportunity to respond. A retraction notice is then published, detailing reasons and explaining actions, and the retracted article is visibly marked. 
  8. Data Sharing: The journal may require that data sharing adhere to ethical guidelines, particularly regarding patient confidentiality, and that authors provide a data availability statement specifying how and where the data can be accessed. Adhering to these requirements enhances the credibility and impact of the published research. 
  9. All funding sources must be disclosed in the manuscript.
  10. Sponsored supplements will undergo the same peer review as regular issues.
  11. Editorial decisions are independent of funding sources.
  12. Advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content

Ethical guidelines  for auhtors, editors and reviewers 

  1. Responsibilities of Authors
  • Authors must ensure originality of submissions and avoid plagiarism, duplicate submission, or redundant publication.
  • Proper acknowledgement of all sources is mandatory.
  • All authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria and disclose conflicts of interest.
  • Research involving humans and animals must have prior ethics committee approval and documented informed consent.
  • Authors are responsible for accuracy of data and must be willing to provide raw data upon request.
  1. Responsibilities of Editors
  • Editors make decisions solely on the basis of manuscript quality, originality, relevance, and ethical standards.
  • Manuscripts authored by editors or editorial board members are processed independently to avoid bias.
  • Editors will not disclose manuscript details to anyone except authors, reviewers, and publishing staff.
  • Editors will act promptly on suspected misconduct (plagiarism, fabricated data, authorship disputes).
  1. Responsibilities of Reviewers
  • Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and evaluate manuscripts objectively.
  • Reviews must be free of personal criticism or bias.
  • Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if applicable.
  • Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.
  1. Misconduct & Investigation
  • Allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, duplicate publication, or unethical research will be investigated.
  • The journal follows COPE flowcharts for handling misconduct.
  • Sanctions may include: rejection of the manuscript, notification to authors’ institutions, or retraction of published articles.
  1. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern
  • Retraction: Issued in cases of proven misconduct or major errors invalidating conclusions.
  • Correction/Erratum: Issued for minor errors that do not affect conclusions.
  • Expression of Concern: Issued when an investigation is ongoing.
  1. Transparency & Accountability
  • All funding sources and sponsorships must be disclosed.
  • Editorial independence is not influenced by sponsors, advertisers, or institutions.
  • JAHM maintains archival integrity via LOCKSS/CLOCKSS and CrossRef DOIs.