Plagiarism Policy

Global Journal of Medicine (GJMED) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. In accordance with its Publication Ethics policy and the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism in all forms.

1. Policy Scope

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to GJMED and governs originality, proper attribution, and ethical writing practices. All submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by any other journal.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the use of another individual’s work, ideas, data, clinical findings, or research results without proper acknowledgment. This includes:

Direct plagiarism: Copying text, clinical descriptions, or results without citation
Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting content without appropriate attribution
Idea plagiarism: Using medical concepts, protocols, or analytical frameworks without acknowledgment
Self-plagiarism: Republishing previously published work without disclosure
Data and figure plagiarism: Using patient data, tables, figures, or medical images without citation or permission

3. Similarity Screening and Threshold

All manuscripts are screened using recognized plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate prior to peer review.

Maximum allowable similarity index: 25%
Maximum similarity from a single source: 5%

Similarity reports are evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Standard medical terminology, commonly used methods, and properly cited materials are excluded where appropriate.

4. Screening and Editorial Decision

The editorial process includes a structured plagiarism screening stage:

≤ 25%: Manuscript proceeds to peer review
26–40%: Manuscript returned to author for revision
> 40%: Manuscript rejected without review

Editors retain full discretion in interpreting similarity reports and identifying ethical concerns.

5. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the integrity and originality of their manuscripts. Authors must:

Ensure the manuscript is entirely original
Properly cite all sources and references
Avoid redundant publication and multiple submissions
Disclose the use of previously published materials
Provide accurate, ethical, and verifiable clinical and research data

Authors are required to sign a License to Publish agreement upon acceptance.

6. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors ensure all submissions undergo plagiarism screening
Reviewers identify and report suspected plagiarism or ethical concerns
All parties maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process

7. Ethical Misconduct and Sanctions

The journal takes appropriate actions in cases of plagiarism:

Before publication:

Manuscript rejection
Request for major revision
Formal notification to the author

After publication:

Article retraction
Publication of a retraction notice
Notification to affiliated institutions when necessary
Temporary or permanent submission ban

8. Retraction and Correction

Retracted articles remain accessible with clear labeling
Minor issues are corrected through corrigendum
All actions follow COPE guidelines and editorial policies

9. Compliance with Publication Ethics

This policy forms an integral part of the journal’s Publication Ethics framework. All authors, editors, and reviewers must adhere to these standards to ensure transparency, accountability, and scholarly integrity.