Confidentiality and Ethics

Introduction

The International Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and Research (IJCAR) upholds a strict confidentiality policy for editors, reviewers, and editorial staff. Maintaining confidentiality throughout the submission, review, and publication process is a cornerstone of editorial ethics, ensuring trust between authors, reviewers, and the journal.

“Confidentiality is not just about discretion — it is about protecting the integrity of scientific communication.”

Editorial Confidentiality Principles

  • Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • Manuscripts should not be shared or discussed with individuals not directly involved in the review process.
  • Reviewer identities must remain strictly anonymous unless explicit consent is provided.
  • Editors must not disclose manuscript details to anyone outside the editorial team without authorization.

Data Protection Responsibilities

All editorial data, including author identities, reviewer comments, and decision records, must be securely stored. The journal complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and COPE’s Core Practices on data handling.

Data Type Access Level Retention Period
Manuscript files Editors, reviewers (as assigned) 5 years post-decision
Reviewer reports Editors and Editor-in-Chief only 5 years
Author correspondence Editorial staff, confidentially stored 7 years

Ethical Conduct in Editorial Work

  • Editors must avoid personal use of any unpublished data from manuscripts.
  • Editorial decisions must be independent of external or commercial influences.
  • Editors are accountable for ensuring that peer review is fair, unbiased, and timely.
  • Any form of discrimination based on gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation is prohibited.

Handling Confidential Information

Editors may discuss manuscripts only with reviewers or associate editors directly involved in evaluation. Data or ideas obtained through the peer review process must not be used to gain competitive or academic advantage.

Managing Conflicts of Interest (COI)

  • Editors must disclose any financial or professional COI that could influence decision-making.
  • Manuscripts authored or co-authored by editors must be handled by independent reviewers and editorial teams.
  • COI declarations are maintained in journal records for transparency and audit purposes.

Misconduct and Breach of Confidentiality

Any suspected breach of confidentiality is investigated by the Editor-in-Chief and may result in disciplinary action, including removal from the editorial board or reporting to institutional authorities.

Post-Publication Ethics

  • Editors must ensure corrections, retractions, or updates are issued transparently.
  • All editorial records of misconduct investigations remain confidential and securely archived.
Note: Upholding confidentiality is both an ethical and legal responsibility, forming the backbone of editorial credibility.

Training and Compliance

  • All editors must undergo periodic training on data protection and ethical handling of submissions.
  • IJCAR encourages participation in COPE and WAME ethical workshops.
  • Compliance with confidentiality policy is reviewed annually by the Editorial Advisory Board.

Contact Information

For questions or reporting breaches of editorial confidentiality:
Email: [email protected]
Alternate: [email protected]
Website: www.anesthesiaresjournal.com

Source: Based on COPE Confidentiality Guidelines, ICMJE Recommendations, and anesthesiaresjournal.com editorial ethics documentation.