Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy

Overview
The Journal of Medico Informatics (JoMI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and ethical publishing. A conflict of interest (COI) arises when professional judgment concerning a primary interest, such as the validity of research, objectivity in peer review, or impartial editorial decision-making, may be influenced by secondary interests, including financial, personal, academic, or institutional relationships. In accordance with internationally recognized best practices, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), JoMI requires full disclosure and appropriate management of all potential conflicts of interest from authors, reviewers, and editors.

Authors Responsibilities
Authors must disclose all actual or potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission. These include financial relationships such as funding, grants, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, or royalties, as well as non-financial interests such as personal relationships, academic competition, or institutional affiliations that may influence the interpretation of results. All funding sources must be clearly acknowledged, along with a statement describing the funder's role in the research. If no conflicts exist, authors must explicitly state that there are no conflicts of interest. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in rejection, post-publication correction, or retraction, depending on the severity of the issue.

Reviewers Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to conduct evaluations with objectivity, fairness, and confidentiality. They must disclose any conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment and should decline participation if any potential bias exists, including prior collaborations with the authors, shared institutional affiliations, personal relationships, or competing interests. Reviewers are also responsible for reporting any suspected undisclosed conflicts or ethical concerns to the editorial office.

Editors Responsibilities
Editors, including the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members, must ensure impartial and unbiased editorial decisions. They are required to recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest, including submissions from their own institution, collaborators, or close associates, or where financial or personal interests may influence judgment. Such manuscripts will be reassigned to an independent editor to maintain the integrity of the review process.

Disclosure and Transparency
JoMI ensures that all disclosed conflicts of interest are clearly stated in published articles under a dedicated "Conflict of Interest" section. This transparency allows readers to assess the potential influence of external factors on the research and supports informed interpretation of findings.

Management of Conflicts
The journal employs strict procedures to manage conflicts of interest, including mandatory disclosure requirements, independent editorial handling, and the use of unbiased reviewers. These measures are designed to ensure fairness, objectivity, and credibility throughout the peer review and publication process.

Policy Violations and Corrective Actions
If a conflict of interest is identified after publication and is found to have affected the integrity or reliability of the work, JoMI reserves the right to take appropriate corrective actions. These may include issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction of the article, as well as notifying relevant institutions or funding bodies when necessary.

Commitment to Ethical Standards
This Conflict-of-Interest Policy reflects JoMI's commitment to upholding international ethical standards, ensuring accountability, and maintaining trust in scholarly communication.