Peer Review Policy, International Journal of Medical Justice (IJMJ)
An Open Access, Peer-Reviewed Journal

1. Introduction

The International Journal of Medical Justice (IJMJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of peer review integrity, transparency, and editorial independence. As a multidisciplinary open access journal, IJMJ ensures rigorous, fair, and ethical assessment of manuscripts by expert reviewers in line with the best practices of:

·         ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)

·         COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)

·         DOAJ, PubMed, Scopus, and Index Copernicus

All manuscripts submitted to IJMJ are subject to a structured editorial and peer review workflow to promote high-quality scholarly publication.

2. Type of Peer Review

IJMJ operates a double-blind peer review system to ensure objective evaluation:

·         Reviewers are unaware of author identities.

·         Authors are unaware of reviewer identities.

This approach minimizes bias and promotes integrity and fairness in scholarly communication.

3. Editorial and Review Process

a. Initial Editorial Screening

All submissions are first assessed by the Editor-in-Chief, Assistant Editors, or Section Editors. Manuscripts are evaluated for:

·         Relevance to the journal's scope

·         Originality and scientific value

·         Ethical compliance and IRB approvals

·         Formatting and submission completeness

·         Plagiarism (screened using standard tools)

Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage without peer review to provide authors with a rapid decision (within 2 weeks).

b. Assignment to Scientific Editor and Reviewers

If a manuscript passes initial screening, it is assigned to a Scientific Editor who selects at least two independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise. Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

·         Novelty and originality

·         Methodological soundness and ethical compliance

·         Scientific rigor and clarity

·         Relevance and significance to the field of medical justice

c. Decision Categories

Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial decision may fall into one of the following categories:

·         Accept

·         Minor Revisions

·         Major Revisions

·         Reject

Authors receive comprehensive reviewer comments and editor decisions. Even one negative review may result in rejection if concerns raised are significant.

4. Peer Review Timeline

·         Initial decision: within 2–4 weeks of submission

·         Final decision after revision: within 2–3 weeks of receiving the revised manuscript
IJMJ strives for efficiency while maintaining rigorous quality control.

5. Author Submission Requirements

Authors are required to submit the following files in compliance with double-blind review standards:

1.      Blinded Manuscript – Without author identifiers (MS Word)

2.      Title Page – With full author names, affiliations, and ORCID iDs (MS Word)

3.      Abstract Page – With contact details and ORCID iD of corresponding author (MS Word)

4.      Figures/Tables/Charts – In editable MS Word format

5.      Signed Author Agreement & Compliance Forms – Including IRB, Conflict of Interest, Funding Disclosure (PDF)

Submit to: submit@ijmj.net

6. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

·         Maintain strict confidentiality

·         Provide timely, unbiased, and constructive feedback

·         Disclose any conflicts of interest

·         Report any misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, ethical issues)

7. Editorial Independence and Conflict of Interest

·         Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial, institutional, or author influence.

·         Editors and reviewers must declare and manage conflicts of interest.

·         Authors must disclose financial or personal interests that may bias their research.

8. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may submit appeals against editorial decisions with a clear rationale. All complaints, including those related to the review process, will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines. These should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief.

9. Ethical Oversight

IJMJ enforces strict ethical publishing policies, in alignment with ICMJE, COPE, and NLM guidance. Submissions involving human or animal subjects must:

·         Include IRB/Ethics Committee approval

·         Provide statements of informed consent

·         Ensure data privacy and protection

10. Reviewer Recognition

To acknowledge peer reviewers, IJMJ:

·         Issues certificates of appreciation

·         Recognizes contributions annually

·         Participates in platforms such as Publons (where applicable)

11. Transparency and Openness

In accordance with DOAJ Principles of Transparency, IJMJ publicly shares:

·         Peer review procedures

·         Editorial roles and responsibilities

·         Author and reviewer guidelines

·         Ethical and open access policies

All policies are accessible on the journal’s website: www.ijmj.net/policies

12. Contact Information

Editor-in-Chief / Editorial Office
International Journal of Medical Justice (IJMJ)
G-1, Ground Floor, City Center, Medical Road
Aligarh 202002, India
📧 editor@ijmj.net | editor.ijmj@gmail.com
🌐 www.ijmj.net | www.glafims.org | www.glafims.com

Last Updated: Friday, September 27, 2024
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