The Healthy Tadulako Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity, following the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. This ethical statement outlines the duties and responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in every stage of the publication process.

Publication Ethics Flowchart

1. Duties of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submitted manuscripts represent original and unpublished work that is not under consideration elsewhere. They must present research results accurately and avoid data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in any form. Proper acknowledgment must be given to all sources that have contributed to the research. All listed authors should have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the study. Authors are also required to disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest and identify all funding sources or institutional support. For studies involving human participants or animals, ethical approval from a recognized ethics committee must be obtained, and evidence of informed consent should be included. Should significant errors or inaccuracies be discovered after publication, authors are obliged to promptly inform the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.

2. Duties of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the academic quality and ethical integrity of the Healthy Tadulako Journal. They make publication decisions based solely on the paper’s academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without discrimination based on gender, race, religion, or institutional affiliation. Editors must ensure that all manuscripts undergo a fair and impartial peer review process. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times; editors and editorial staff are prohibited from disclosing or using any unpublished materials for personal advantage. In cases of suspected misconduct or ethical violations, editors will take appropriate measures in accordance with COPE flowcharts, which may include consultation, correction, or retraction.

3. Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers play a crucial role in the editorial process by providing objective and constructive evaluations of submitted manuscripts. They must conduct reviews confidentially and must not use the information obtained for personal or professional gain. Reviewers are expected to identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and to alert the editor of any significant similarities or overlap with existing literature. Any potential conflicts of interest whether financial, institutional, or personal must be declared before accepting the review assignment. Reviewers should provide their assessments within the agreed timeline and aim to help authors improve the clarity, validity, and scientific rigor of their manuscripts.

4. Duties of the Publisher

The Faculty of Medicine, Tadulako University, as the publisher, supports the editorial board in maintaining ethical standards throughout the publication process. The publisher ensures that all parties authors, editors, and reviewers adhere to best practices in scholarly publishing. It upholds the independence of the editorial process and will not influence editorial decisions for commercial or political reasons. In the event of proven misconduct such as plagiarism, falsification, or unethical research practices, the publisher will coordinate with editors to take appropriate actions, including correction, retraction, or public notice, in line with COPE recommendations.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy

All manuscripts submitted to the Healthy Tadulako Journal are screened using plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin or iThenticate). Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% (excluding references) may be returned to the author for revision or rejected outright. Plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, or image manipulation are considered serious ethical violations. When such cases are detected, the journal will initiate an investigation following COPE procedures and may issue retractions, errata, or corrections as needed to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

6. Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with international ethical standards, including the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant national regulations. Authors must clearly state that ethical approval was obtained from an accredited committee and that informed consent was granted by participants. The journal may request supporting documentation during review. Editors are responsible for ensuring that published articles respect ethical boundaries and that no harm or exploitation occurs in the course of research.

7. Retraction Policy

The Healthy Tadulako Journal follows the COPE Retraction Guidelines to maintain the integrity of the scientific record. Articles may be retracted if they are found to contain falsified data, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other serious ethical issues. Retractions are issued through a formal notice explaining the reasons and linked to the original publication. In some cases, corrections or expressions of concern may be published instead of full retraction, depending on the severity of the issue.

8. Conflict of Interest Statement

All participants in the publication process authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their objectivity. This includes financial relationships, academic competition, or personal associations. Transparent disclosure allows readers to assess the integrity and impartiality of the research. Where conflicts exist, the journal will take necessary steps to ensure unbiased peer review and editorial decisions.