Conflict of Interest Policy
Preserving credibility and scientific integrity in scholarly publishing requires the transparent disclosure and appropriate management of conflicts of interest by all stakeholders. Forbes Journal of Medicine, under the institutional framework of Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital, is committed to maintaining an environment of impartiality, independence, and academic honesty throughout all editorial processes.
Institutional Role
Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital recognizes that identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest is a shared responsibility among authors, reviewers, and editors. Within this framework:
• The journal’s conflict of interest policy is implemented in alignment with international guidelines issued by ICMJE and COPE.
• Conflict of interest disclosure forms are made openly accessible on the journal’s website, and a clear disclosure statement is required in all published articles.
• Editorial workflows are monitored to ensure that decisions are made transparently and free from inappropriate influence.
• Editorial assignments are distributed in a manner that minimizes the impact of declared conflicts of interest.
• Undisclosed or subsequently discovered conflicts of interest are addressed in accordance with COPE corrective guidelines.
The overarching institutional aim is to ensure that scientific evaluation is based solely on the quality of the work and that potential biases are effectively minimized.
Standards for Authors
Authors are expected to adhere to the following requirements:
• Full disclosure of any relationships or activities that may create a conflict of interest during the design, execution, analysis, writing, or publication of the study.
• Declaration of both financial (funding, consultancy, sponsorship, royalties, stock ownership, etc.) and non-financial (personal relationships, academic rivalry, intellectual disagreements, etc.) interests.
• Clear acknowledgment of all funding sources, grants, and project support obtained for the work.
• Submission of the completed ICMJE Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest Form at the time of manu submission.
• Inclusion of a conflict-of-interest statement at the end of each published article.
• Ensuring that any sponsorship agreements do not restrict authors’ access to data, independent analysis, or the right to publish.
Standards for Reviewers
Forbes Journal of Medicine operates a double-blind peer-review system, and reviewers are expected to avoid any involvement that may compromise objectivity:
• Reviewers must immediately inform the editorial office if they have any relationship or interest with the authors, institutions, or subject matter that could influence their judgment.
• Potential conflicts may include recent collaborations, financial relationships, personal associations, competitive dynamics, or significant intellectual disagreements.
• Reviewers with declared conflicts of interest will be replaced and removed from the evaluation process.
Standards for Editors
Editorial independence is essential for trustworthy decision-making. Editors must avoid any circumstances that may compromise their impartiality:
• Editors must declare and recuse themselves from handling any manuscript in which they hold a personal, institutional, or financial interest.
• Editors must remain completely uninvolved in the review and decision-making processes of manuscripts authored by themselves or by individuals with whom they have close professional or personal relationships.
• Manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or the Editor-in-Chief must be managed by an independent editor following principles of objectivity and confidentiality.
• Editors must refrain from assigning reviewers who are known to have conflicts of interest with the manuscript under evaluation.
• All editorial decisions must be documented transparently and made in accordance with ICMJE and COPE standards.