The Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Innovations (APJMI) maintains a strict policy against plagiarism to uphold the integrity, originality, and quality of the research it publishes. Plagiarism, in any form, is considered a serious breach of academic ethics and is not tolerated. This policy outlines the journal's approach to detecting and addressing plagiarism and the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors in maintaining high ethical standards.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

• Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as using another person's ideas, words, data, or work without proper acknowledgment, presenting them as one's own. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word from another source without appropriate quotation marks and citations.
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewrite another author's work with minor changes but retain the original ideas without proper attribution.
• Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant portions of one's previously published work without acknowledging the source (also known as duplicate publication or text recycling).
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases, ideas, or structures from different sources and blending them without proper citation.
• Misappropriation of Research: Presenting someone else's data, research results, or experiments as one's own without permission or acknowledgment.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

• Originality Requirement: Authors submitting to APJMI must ensure that their work is entirely original and has not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere. They must cite all sources appropriately and provide accurate references for any content, ideas, or data from other works.
• Similarity Threshold: APJMI allows a maximum of 10% similarity in submitted manuscripts, as determined by plagiarism detection software. Authors are responsible for ensuring their manuscript adheres to this threshold before submission.
• Proper Citation: Authors must ensure that all ideas, data, and text derived from other sources are properly cited and referenced. Failure to provide appropriate attribution is considered plagiarism.
• Ethical Statement: Authors must submit an ethical statement confirming that the manuscript is original, free from plagiarism, and compliant with the journal's ethical guidelines.

3. Detection of Plagiarism

• Plagiarism Detection Software: All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using advanced plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin or similar tools before they are sent for peer review. This software compares the submitted manuscript against a vast database of published works to detect similarities and potential plagiarism.
• Editorial Screening: The editorial team initially screens each manuscript to identify any signs of plagiarism or overlapping text. Manuscripts found to have excessive similarity or evidence of plagiarism are immediately flagged for further investigation.

4. Handling Plagiarism Cases

• Initial Assessment: If plagiarism is detected during the initial screening or at any stage of the peer review process, the editorial team will conduct an in-depth assessment to determine the extent and severity of the plagiarism.
• Minor Overlap: In minor overlap (similarity within acceptable limits and properly cited), the authors may be asked to revise the manuscript to reduce the similarity and ensure proper attribution. The manuscript may proceed to review or publication after revisions are satisfactorily made.
• Major Plagiarism: If significant plagiarism is detected (e.g., extensive copying, poor paraphrasing without citation, or unacknowledged use of another's work), the manuscript will be rejected outright. The authors will be notified of the reason for rejection and provided with evidence of the plagiarism.
• Self-Plagiarism: If self-plagiarism is identified, the authors will be required to rewrite or remove the duplicated content. In cases where the self-plagiarized content is substantial, the manuscript may be rejected.

5. Post-Publication Actions

• Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, APJMI will initiate an investigation. If the claim is substantiated, the journal will retract the published article. The retraction notice will clearly state the reasons for retraction, including details of the plagiarism, and will remain in the journal's archives.
• Corrections: In cases where the plagiarism is less severe and the article's core content remains valid, the journal may issue a correction notice rather than a retraction. The correction will provide proper attribution for the plagiarized content.
• Notification of Affected Parties: In cases of severe plagiarism, the authors' institutions and relevant funding agencies may be notified of the misconduct. This is particularly true if the plagiarism involves intentional misrepresentation or academic dishonesty.

6. Consequences for Authors

• Rejection of Manuscript: Manuscripts that contain plagiarism are rejected without further consideration. Authors may be barred from submitting to APJMI in the future, depending on the severity of the offense.
• Reporting to Institutions: In cases of serious or repeated plagiarism, APJMI reserves the right to report the offending authors to their affiliated institutions, funding agencies, or other relevant bodies for further action.
• Publication Ban: Authors found guilty of significant plagiarism may face a publication ban from APJMI for a specified period or indefinitely, depending on the gravity of the misconduct.

7. Role of Reviewers and Editors

• Vigilance: Reviewers and editors are expected to remain vigilant for signs of plagiarism in the manuscripts they handle. If reviewers suspect plagiarism, they should immediately notify the editorial office with specific details and evidence.
• Ethical Reporting: Editors and reviewers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the peer review process while ensuring that ethical standards are upheld. Any allegations of plagiarism must be handled discreetly, following the journal's established procedures.

8. Education and Awareness

• Author Education: APJMI is committed to educating authors about plagiarism and its consequences. The journal provides resources, including guidelines on proper citation practices and plagiarism detection tools, to help authors avoid unintentional plagiarism.
• Reviewer Training: Reviewers are trained to identify potential plagiarism and to understand the ethical implications of their role in maintaining the journal's integrity. Resources and guidance are provided to reviewers to assist in detecting and addressing plagiarism.