Publishing Ethics

Acta Clinica Croatica

Acta Clinica Croatica is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. As a peer-reviewed open-access journal in the field of clinical medical sciences, biomedicine, and healthcare, we expect all parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—to adhere to internationally accepted standards of ethical conduct. Our editorial policies and ethical guidelines align with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

  1. Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. Any content or data derived from other sources must be properly cited or quoted. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism, uncredited use of others’ work, or data fabrication—is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate rejection or retraction of the article.

1.2 Authorship Criteria

All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission. Gift authorship or ghostwriting is unethical and not acceptable.

1.3 Multiple or Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. Articles that substantially overlap with previously published work (including in another language) must clearly reference and justify the overlap.

1.4 Data Access and Retention

Authors should be prepared to provide access to raw data or supporting materials upon request by the editorial office, especially in cases of suspected misconduct. Authors should also ensure that data is stored securely and ethically for a reasonable period after publication.

1.5 Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

For studies involving human participants, authors must confirm that the research was approved by an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB), and that informed consent was obtained from all participants. For animal research, ethical treatment and compliance with relevant institutional and national guidelines must be demonstrated.

1.6 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation. Funding sources and any potential conflicts should be declared at the end of the manuscript.

  1. Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

2.1 Editorial Independence

Editors are responsible for making impartial decisions based solely on the scientific merit, relevance, originality, and clarity of submitted manuscripts. Decisions are not influenced by authors’ nationality, institutional affiliation, race, gender, or personal beliefs.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. No information about a manuscript will be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or the publisher as appropriate.

2.3 Fair and Transparent Peer Review

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, timely, and objective peer review process. Manuscripts are typically evaluated using a double-blind peer review model. Editors must avoid any conflict of interest with authors or reviewers.

2.4 Handling Misconduct

If an editor suspects misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, unethical research practices), they will initiate a formal investigation in line with COPE guidelines. If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or notify relevant authorities.

  1. Duties and Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

3.1 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers may not share or discuss manuscripts with anyone outside the peer review process unless authorized by the editor.

3.2 Objectivity and Constructive Criticism

Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work. Personal criticism or biased comments are not acceptable.

3.3 Timeliness

Reviewers are expected to submit their evaluations within the agreed timeline. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review in time or feels unqualified to review a manuscript, they must inform the editor promptly.

3.4 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their objectivity and decline to review a manuscript if necessary.

  1. Handling Ethical Misconduct

Acta Clinica Croatica takes allegations of misconduct seriously. The journal will investigate all credible complaints of unethical behavior, whether during the review process or after publication. Depending on the severity of the misconduct, actions may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of a published article
  • Notification of the authors’ institution
  • Banning the author(s) from future submissions
  • Public issuance of an expression of concern or correction
  1. Post-Publication Responsibilities

5.1 Corrections and Retractions

The journal will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication. All such notices will be clearly linked to the original article and will explain the nature of the correction or retraction.

5.2 Archiving and Preservation

All published articles are permanently archived and accessible through the journal’s website and indexing partners to ensure the long-term preservation of scholarly work.

  1. Open Access and Licensing

Acta Clinica Croatica is an open-access journal. Articles are published under a Creative Commons license (typically CC BY or CC BY-NC), allowing free access and distribution, provided the original work is properly cited.

  1. Appeals and Complaints

Authors or reviewers who wish to appeal editorial decisions or lodge complaints about the review process or ethical issues should contact the Editor-in-Chief directly. All concerns will be handled confidentially and fairly.