Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat (BKM) follows guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in facing all aspects of publication ethics and, in particular, how to handle cases of research and publication misconduct. BKM adopts COPE principle to meet high quality standards of ethics for publisher, editors, authors, and reviewers. As an essential issue, publication ethics need to be explained clearly to improve the quality of research worldwide. In this part, we explain the ethical responsibilities applied for authors, editors, and reviewers.

In addition, peer reviewers should:

• only agree to review manuscripts for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment and which they can assess promptly;
• respect the confidentiality of peer review and not reveal any details of a manuscript or its review, during or after the peer-review process, beyond those that are released by the journal;
• not use information obtained during the peer-review process for their own or any other person’s or organization’s advantage or to disadvantage or discredit others;
• declare all potential conflicting interests, seeking advice from the journal if they are unsure whether something constitutes a relevant interest;
• not allow their reviews to be influenced by the origins of a manuscript, by the nationality, religious or political beliefs, gender, or other characteristics of the authors, or by commercial considerations;
• be objective and constructive in their reviews, refraining from being hostile or inflammatory and from making libelous or derogatory personal comments;
• acknowledge that peer review is essentially a reciprocal endeavor and undertake to carry out their fair share of reviewing in a timely manner;
• provide Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat with personal and professional information that is accurate and a true representation of their expertise
• recognize that impersonation of another individual during the review process is considered serious misconduct.
• Cases of suspected misconduct
• Allegations of misconduct or cases of suspected misconduct are investigated in accordance with the COPE Best Practice Guidelines as far as is practicable.

Roles of Editor-in-Chief
The Editor-in-Chief of Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat is responsible for setting the content’s tone and editorial direction, maintaining internal policies, and ensuring consistent quality across all issues.
Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing budgeting, strategic planning, and public relations.
• Investigating any ethical concerns raised about submitted or published manuscripts, in collaboration with the publisher or society.
• Supervising the daily operations of Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat, including review, editing, and publication processes.
• Creating journal issues, scheduling submissions, arranging the Table of Contents, and publishing the final issues.
• Evaluating manuscripts without bias regarding authors’ race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, citizenship, or political views.
• Making decisions based on originality, importance, clarity, validity, and relevance to Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat’s scope, while ensuring compliance with legal requirements such as libel, copyright, and plagiarism.

Role of Editorial Advisory Board
The International Editorial Advisory Board serves as an advisory body to the Editor-in-Chief.
Responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic guidance for Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat.
• Contributing editorial articles and suggesting themes for special issues.
• Enhancing Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat’s international reputation.
• Encouraging high-quality manuscript submissions through outreach to potential authors.
• Identifying reviewers for Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat’s reviewer database.
• Note: Advisory Board members do not participate in manuscript review or editorial decision-making.

Roles of Editorial Board Members
Editorial Board Members are responsible for:

• Assessing manuscripts and selecting appropriate reviewers.
• Recommending editorial decisions based on reviewers’ reports and their own evaluation.
• Contributing editorial articles as needed.
• Adhering to Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat’s editorial policies.
  

Responsibilities of Editors and Board Members

• Confidentiality: Editors and board members must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts except to authorized individuals (authors, reviewers, other editors, publisher).
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors and board members must not use unpublished manuscript information for personal research without authors’ consent. They must recuse themselves from manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist and allow another board member to handle the manuscript. Editors also act as ambassadors for Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat and assist the in-house editorial team as needed.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

• Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts as confidential documents; do not share without editor authorization.
• Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Provide objective and constructive reviews to help editors make informed decisions and assist authors in improving their manuscripts.
• Promptness: Decline reviews if unqualified or unable to complete on time.
• Objectivity: Maintain impartiality; avoid personal criticism.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Identify uncited relevant work and report any overlap with other manuscripts.
• Conflict of Interest: Avoid reviewing manuscripts where personal or professional conflicts exist.

Authors’ Duties

• Originality and Plagiarism: Submit only original work and properly cite all sources.
• Reporting Standards: Present accurate accounts of research with sufficient detail for replication.
• Data Access and Retention: Provide raw data for review and ensure accessibility for at least 10 years.
• Multiple or Redundant Publication: Do not submit manuscripts to multiple journals simultaneously unless secondary publication conditions are met.
• Authorship: List only those who meet authorship criteria; acknowledge others with permission.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Disclose all financial and substantive conflicts of interest.
• Correction of Errors: Notify editors promptly of significant errors for correction or retraction.
• Human and Animal Subjects: Comply with ethical guidelines; include statements on institutional approval and informed consent.
• Peer Review Cooperation: Respond to editorial and reviewer requests systematically and promptly.

Duties of the Publisher

• Handling Unethical Behavior: Investigate misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, and take appropriate corrective action, including errata or retraction.
• Access to Journal Content: Ensure permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research, maintain digital archives, and partner with organizations to secure access.

Allegations of Research and Publication Misconduct

Research and publication misconduct may include fabrication, falsification, inappropriate image manipulation, plagiarism, citation manipulation, unethical research practices, and manipulation of the peer-review process.

Investigation of Suspected Misconduct

Allegations of misconduct will be assessed and investigated in accordance with applicable COPE guidance and procedures, as appropriate.

Investigation and Editorial Decisions

When misconduct is suspected, the Editor-in-Chief and editorial board will assess the available evidence and may request original research data, supporting documents, explanations from the authors, or information from the relevant institution or ethics oversight body.

A submitted manuscript found to involve serious misconduct may be rejected. If misconduct is established in a published article, the journal may publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, depending on the nature and severity of the case. Any action will be documented and communicated appropriately.

 

Authorship and Contributorship Disputes

BKM requires transparency regarding authorship and individual contributions in accordance with ICMJE recommendations.

Disputes may involve inappropriate inclusion or exclusion of authors, ghost or guest authorship, changes to the author list, deceased authors, or duplicate submissions. The editor may suspend the editorial process while the dispute is investigated and resolved.

Where necessary, the editor may request written explanations, confirmation from all relevant authors, or supporting documentation from the authors' institutions. For deceased authors, the surviving co-authors should provide appropriate documentation and clarify any relevant authorship and conflict-of-interest issues.

If an authorship problem is identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction or, where justified, a retraction. An editorial statement may also be published to clarify the contributions or circumstances involved.

 

Complaints and Appeals

BKM maintains a formal process for handling complaints and appeals concerning the journal, its editorial board, editorial staff, or publisher.

Complaints may relate to editorial decisions, review quality, citation manipulation, editorial misconduct, peer-review integrity, editorial bias, peer-review manipulation, or commercial conflicts of interest.

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Office. The journal will assess the complaint, seek clarification from the relevant parties, and conduct an appropriate investigation in accordance with applicable COPE guidance and the journal's procedures.

Appeals against editorial decisions should provide a clear explanation and relevant supporting evidence. The outcome will be communicated to the complainant and other parties as appropriate.

 

Ethical Oversight

Authors must identify unusual or significant hazards associated with research materials, chemicals, equipment, procedures, or interventions and comply with applicable safety and ethical requirements.

Where required, authors must obtain ethical approval from the relevant research ethics committee or regulatory authority before conducting the research. Research involving confidential, sensitive, or identifiable data must comply with applicable privacy and data-protection requirements.

Authors must explain how participant confidentiality and data security were maintained, particularly when research involves health records, epidemiological datasets, or commercially sensitive information.