Policies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Research Ethics, and Informed Consent

Ethical Policies

Journal of Bacha Khan Medical College (JBKMC), Mardan, Pakistan

The Journal of Bacha Khan Medical College (JBKMC) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The following policies apply to all submitted manuscripts and are aligned with the ethical principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Medical Association (WMA), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the ARRIVE guidelines for animal research.

1. Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest (COI) arises when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional affiliations may compromise—or appear to compromise—their objectivity in conducting or reviewing research.

Policy:

  • All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission.

  • Reviewers and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which a COI exists.

  • A Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement will be published in all articles. If there are no conflicts, a statement such as "The authors declare no conflicts of interest." will be included.

2. Human Rights and Ethical Research Involving Humans

JBKMC strictly follows the Declaration of Helsinki and ICMJE recommendations concerning research involving human subjects.

Policy:

  • All studies involving human participants must include a statement confirming that ethical approval was obtained from an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.

  • The name of the approving body and approval number/reference must be mentioned in the manuscript.

  • Authors must also confirm that the research was conducted in accordance with institutional and international ethical standards.

  • Research involving vulnerable populations must include justification and additional safeguards.

3. Research Involving Animals

JBKMC requires that all animal experiments comply with the ARRIVE guidelines and be conducted in accordance with internationally accepted principles for the care and use of laboratory animals.

Policy:

  • Authors must state the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and the approval number/reference.

  • The manuscript must confirm compliance with institutional and national guidelines for animal welfare (e.g., minimizing suffering, humane endpoints).

  • Any deviation from standard procedures must be justified and explained.

4. Informed Consent

Authors must ensure that written informed consent is obtained for all studies involving human participants, including:

  • Clinical trials

  • Case reports

  • Use of identifiable images, data, or videos

Policy:

  • The manuscript must include a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained.

  • If a patient’s image or identifiable information is used, explicit consent for publication must be provided.

  • In the case of minors or those unable to consent, consent must be obtained from legal guardians.

Note: The editorial board reserves the right to request copies of consent forms and ethical approval documents at any stage of the review or publication process.

5. Non-Compliance and Ethical Misconduct

Failure to adhere to these ethical policies may result in:

  • Rejection of the manuscript

  • Retraction of published articles

  • Notification to the author's institution or funding agency

For further inquiries or clarification, please contact the editorial office:
Email: jbkmc@bkmc.edu.pk