Conflict of Interest Policy
The Gazette of Medical Sciences (The GMS) is committed to transparency, editorial independence and responsible scholarly publishing. Authors, reviewers and editors are expected to disclose relevant financial and non-financial interests that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, their professional judgment.
The purpose of disclosure is to support informed editorial assessment and reader confidence. The existence of a competing interest does not automatically prevent manuscript consideration or publication. Relevant interests should be disclosed and managed appropriately.
Our Approach to Competing Interests
A conflict of interest, also referred to as a competing interest, may arise when financial, professional, personal, institutional or other relationships could affect, or appear to affect, the objectivity of scholarly work or editorial decisions.
The GMS recognizes that researchers, clinicians and scholars may have professional relationships and activities relevant to their work. Transparent disclosure allows such interests to be considered fairly rather than automatically treating them as misconduct.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must disclose competing interests relevant to the manuscript during submission. The corresponding author is responsible for coordinating the declaration on behalf of all contributing authors.
Disclosures should include relevant relationships or interests that could reasonably be perceived to influence the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation or presentation of the work.
Authors should provide an appropriate competing interests statement in the manuscript and disclose any necessary additional details during submission or in the cover letter.
If a relevant competing interest becomes apparent after submission, authors should inform the editorial team promptly.
Financial Competing Interests
Financial competing interests may include relationships or arrangements involving:
- Research grants, sponsorship or financial support from organizations with an interest in the work.
- Employment, consultancy, advisory roles or paid professional services.
- Honoraria, speaking fees, travel support or other relevant financial benefits.
- Stock ownership, equity, royalties, patents or other intellectual property interests.
- Financial relationships with companies or organizations whose products, services or interests are discussed in the manuscript.
Authors should disclose relevant financial interests even where they believe those interests have not affected their work.
Non-Financial Competing Interests
Non-financial competing interests may include personal, professional, academic, institutional or organizational relationships that could reasonably influence scholarly judgment.
Examples may include:
- Leadership, membership or advisory positions in professional, governmental, non-governmental or advocacy organizations.
- Unpaid advisory or consulting relationships.
- Personal or professional relationships with individuals or organizations directly connected to the work.
- Academic, institutional or professional interests that may be affected by the findings or conclusions.
- Relevant expert witness, advocacy or public policy activities.
Ordinary professional affiliations do not automatically constitute conflicts of interest. Authors should disclose relationships that are relevant to the submitted work.
Funding and Sponsor Involvement
Authors should identify relevant sources of financial support and explain the role of funders or sponsors, where applicable.
Such roles may include involvement in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Where a funder or sponsor had no involvement in these activities, authors may state this clearly.
Funding does not automatically invalidate research. Transparent disclosure helps editors and readers evaluate the work in its appropriate context.
Competing Interests Declaration
Authors should include a concise statement in their manuscript. The following examples may be adapted as appropriate.
When No Competing Interests Exist
"The authors declare no competing interests."
When Competing Interests Exist
"The authors declare the following competing interests: [briefly describe the relevant financial or non-financial relationships]."
The declaration should reflect the actual circumstances of the authors. Additional details may be requested when necessary for transparent editorial assessment.
Authors without relevant competing interests are not expected to complete unnecessarily extensive declarations.
Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers
Reviewers should disclose any financial, professional, personal or institutional interests that could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, their independent assessment of a manuscript.
Examples include close collaborations, significant professional relationships, direct competition, personal relationships or relevant financial interests.
Reviewers should inform the editorial team when a potential conflict is identified. Depending on its nature and significance, the reviewer may be asked to decline or withdraw from the assignment.
Reviewers must maintain manuscript confidentiality and must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage.
Responsibilities of Editors
Editors and editorial board members should disclose relevant competing interests that may affect their handling of a manuscript.
Where an editor has a significant financial, personal, professional or institutional conflict, responsibility for the manuscript should be assigned to another suitably qualified editor or independent editorial decision-maker.
Manuscripts submitted by editors, editorial board members or individuals closely associated with the journal should receive independent editorial assessment and appropriate peer review.
Editorial decisions should be based on scholarly merit, methodological or analytical soundness, relevance, ethical considerations and the contribution's value to readers.
Editorial Independence and Publication Charges
The GMS maintains a separation between editorial assessment and financial arrangements associated with publication or optional author services.
Publication charges, waiver requests, payments for optional manuscript development assistance and post-publication promotional services must not determine manuscript acceptance or rejection.
The purchase of any optional service does not guarantee acceptance, favorable peer review or a particular editorial outcome.
Editors and reviewers are expected to assess manuscripts independently of these commercial arrangements.
Managing Disclosed Competing Interests
The GMS considers disclosed competing interests according to their relevance, nature and potential effect on the manuscript or editorial process.
Appropriate measures may include requesting clarification, publishing a competing interests statement, assigning an independent reviewer or editor, or taking other proportionate steps to protect editorial integrity.
Disclosure does not automatically lead to rejection. The journal seeks to manage relevant interests fairly and transparently.
Undisclosed Interests and Post-Publication Concerns
If a potentially relevant undisclosed competing interest is identified during editorial assessment or after publication, The GMS may seek clarification from the individuals concerned and examine the available evidence.
Depending on the circumstances, the journal may request an updated disclosure, issue a correction or take other appropriate editorial action.
More serious concerns involving the integrity or reliability of the scholarly record may require further investigation and consideration under the journal's publication ethics and post-publication procedures.
Any action should be proportionate to the concern and based on fair consideration of the relevant evidence.