Publication Ethics

RKGP Journals is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and promoting responsible research practices. All editorial staff, authors, and reviewers are expected to comply with internationally recognized ethical guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Allegations of ethical misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE Best Practice Guidelines, and authors, editors, or staff may report potential breaches to compliance@rkgpjournals.org. RKGP Journals provides training for staff to manage ethical investigations and seeks legal counsel where necessary.

Authorship

RKGP Journals requires that all articles provide accurate and transparent attribution of authorship. Each listed author must have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work. Disputes concerning authorship should be addressed following COPE guidelines. When third-party services (e.g., language editing or manuscript preparation) are used, authors must ensure that these services adhere to ethical standards.

Attribution and Acknowledgment
Authorship should reflect significant contributions to the design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study.

Changes in Authorship
Requests to modify authorship, either prior to or after publication, must be submitted to the journal editor or administrator and will only be approved if all authors consent and a valid rationale is provided. Post-publication changes are documented via formal corrections. Relevant COPE guidance includes:

  • Addition of authors before publication
  • Removal of authors before publication
  • Addition or removal of authors post-publication

Ghost, Guest, or Gift Authorship
RKGP Journals considers ghost, guest, or gift authorship unethical. Ghost authors are contributors not listed on the publication, while guest or gift authors are individuals with minimal or no contribution included as authors. Allegations of unethical authorship practices will be investigated, and corrections or institutional notifications may be issued.

Article Submission

Manuscripts submitted to RKGP Journals must be treated with confidentiality and respect. Authors are expected to adhere to recognized publishing standards and ethics. Cases of proven misconduct may result in:

  • Retraction of the article
  • Issuance of corrections or statements of concern
  • Refusal of future submissions
  • Notification to the author’s institution or ethics committee

Redundant Publication
Submitted work must be original and not simultaneously submitted to or published in another journal. Allegations of duplicate publication are thoroughly investigated, and coordination with other publishers may occur when necessary.

Plagiarism
All manuscripts must represent original work. Proper credit must be given for all cited ideas, text, and data. RKGP Journals employs plagiarism detection software and investigates suspected cases according to COPE guidelines.

Defamation
Manuscripts should avoid content that could be deemed defamatory. RKGP Journals evaluates submissions to prevent the publication of unverified, slanderous, or damaging material.

Conflict of Interest

RKGP Journals emphasizes transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest for authors, editors, and reviewers.

Authors
Conflicts of interest arise when personal, financial, or professional interests could influence the interpretation or presentation of research. Authors must disclose:

  • All sources of funding and material support
  • The role of funders in the research
  • Any relevant financial or non-financial interests, including consultancy, patents, or stock ownership

Editors
Editors must declare potential conflicts of interest at the start of their tenure and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists.

Reviewers
Reviewers should disclose potential conflicts prior to accepting assignments. Editors must select alternate reviewers if a conflict is identified.

Fair Editing and Peer Review

RKGP Journals expects all participants in the editorial and peer review process to act ethically.

Editorial Independence
Editors retain full independence in decision-making. RKGP Journals may advise on policy and process but does not influence editorial decisions for commercial or political reasons. Submissions from editors or board members are subject to the same rigorous review as all other manuscripts.

Peer Review
RKGP Journals supports transparent peer review practices and refers reviewers to COPE guidelines. Reviewers are required to evaluate manuscripts objectively, maintain confidentiality, and avoid using manuscript information for personal advantage.

Peer Review Fraud
Authors suggesting reviewers must provide accurate contact details. Fabricated reviewer information or fraudulent peer review activity will result in rejection or retraction and may involve institutional notification.

Promoting Ethical Research

RKGP Journals publishes research that adheres to recognized ethical standards.

Patient Confidentiality
Research involving human subjects must ensure privacy and obtain informed consent for the use of identifiable data.

Animal Research
Studies involving animals must comply with humane practices and internationally recognized guidelines, including ARRIVE standards.

Clinical Trials
All clinical trials must be prospectively registered in a publicly accessible database, with registration details included in the manuscript.

Data Integrity
Falsification, fabrication, or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited. Suspected misconduct will be investigated, and unsatisfactory explanations may result in retraction or a temporary ban on submissions.

Citation Ethics
Citations should be relevant, accurate, and not included for the purpose of artificially inflating references. Unethical self-citation or citation manipulation is strictly prohibited.

RKGP Journals periodically reviews and updates this policy to align with evolving best practices in publication ethics.