Purpose

The Journal is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, and rights of all individuals participating in research. In accordance with the ethical principles of the International Committee on Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the Declaration of Helsinki, all research involving human participants must be conducted only after obtaining appropriate informed consent.

Obtaining Informed Consent

Authors must obtain informed consent from all participants before collecting, using, or publishing any personal, clinical, or identifiable information. Participants should receive clear and understandable information regarding the purpose of the study, research procedures, potential risks and benefits, confidentiality measures, and their right to refuse participation or withdraw at any stage without penalty. Consent should be voluntary, informed, and documented before the research begins.

Confidentiality and Privacy

The Journal requires authors to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion when handling participant information. Data obtained through confidential professional relationships, including doctor–patient, researcher–participant, therapist–client, or similar relationships, must be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Personal information should be anonymized or de-identified whenever possible to safeguard participant privacy.

Publication of Identifiable Information

Identifiable information, including names, photographs, videos, medical records, or other personal data, must not be published unless it is scientifically necessary and the participant has provided explicit written consent specifically permitting its publication. Authors remain responsible for ensuring that participants fully understand how their information will be used and published.

Research Involving Vulnerable Participants

For research involving children, individuals with impaired decision-making capacity, or other vulnerable populations, informed consent must be obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or legally authorized representative. Where appropriate, researchers should also obtain the participant's assent in accordance with applicable ethical and legal requirements.

Documentation and Record Keeping

Authors are responsible for securely maintaining informed consent records and must provide documentation to the Journal upon request. To protect participant confidentiality, consent forms should not be submitted with the manuscript unless specifically requested by the editorial office or required during the review process.

Manuscript Requirements

All manuscripts reporting research involving human participants must include an Informed Consent Statement confirming that appropriate consent was obtained and that the research complied with institutional, national, and international ethical standards. Authors should also indicate approval from the relevant ethics committee where applicable.

Editorial Responsibility

The editorial office may request additional information or documentation to verify compliance with this policy. Manuscripts that fail to meet informed consent requirements may be rejected, corrected, retracted, or subjected to other editorial actions in accordance with COPE and ICMJE recommendations.

Key Requirements

• Obtain written informed consent before involving human participants in research.

• Provide participants with complete information about the study and their rights.

• Protect all confidential and personal information with the highest level of security and discretion.

• Publish identifiable information only with explicit written permission.

• Obtain consent from legally authorized representatives for minors and vulnerable participants when required.

• Retain informed consent documentation and provide it to the Journal upon request.

• Include an Informed Consent Statement in every applicable manuscript.

• Comply with all relevant ethical, legal, and institutional requirements governing human participant research.