Table of Contents

• Purpose and Scope
• Adherence to International Standards
• Functions of the Committee
• Composition
• Term of Office
• Convocation and Resolutions
• Recusal of Members
• Investigation and Adjudication Procedures
• Protection of Reporters and Respondents
• Measures Following Adjudication
• Appeals
• Confidentiality and Retention of Records
• Supplementary Provisions and Amendment

Purpose and Scope

The Research Ethics Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") of the Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma (JMT) is established to uphold the integrity of research and publication ethics of the journal and to ensure the fair and systematic prevention and handling of research misconduct. These regulations set forth the composition and operation of the Committee.

These regulations apply to all matters concerning research and publication ethics related to manuscripts submitted to or published in JMT, including but not limited to research misconduct, conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, and post-publication corrections.

Adherence to International Standards

The Committee adheres to the guidelines for research and publication described in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidelines, the ICMJE Recommendations, and the Good Publication Practice Guideline for Medical Journals. All processes addressing research and publication misconduct shall follow the flowcharts of COPE.

Functions of the Committee

The Committee shall deliberate and decide on the following matters:

• • Establishment and revision of the research and publication ethics policies of the journal.
• • Investigation and adjudication of reported cases of research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate authorship, duplicate publication, and simultaneous submission.
• • Deliberation of matters related to conflicts of interest of authors, reviewers, and editors.
• • Decisions regarding corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions of published articles.
• • Matters related to the protection of the rights of reporters and respondents.
• • Any other matters deemed necessary by the Chairperson for deliberation related to research and publication ethics.

Composition

The Committee shall consist of five (5) members, including the Chairperson. The Editor-in-Chief of the journal shall serve as the Chairperson of the Committee ex officio.

Committee members shall be appointed from among the Editorial Board members of the journal who possess relevant expertise and experience in research and publication ethics. Members shall be nominated by the Editor-in-Chief and appointed through the resolution of the Editorial Board.

A secretary may be appointed to handle the administrative affairs of the Committee. The secretary shall be designated by the Chairperson from among the Managing Editor or Editorial Board members of the journal and shall have no voting rights.

Term of Office

The term of office for Committee members shall be two (2) years, and members may be reappointed once consecutively. The term of the Chairperson shall coincide with the term of the Editor-in-Chief.

In the event of a vacancy, a successor shall be appointed in accordance with the procedures described in the Composition section, and the term of the successor shall be the remaining term of the predecessor.

Convocation and Resolutions

Meetings of the Committee shall be convened by the Chairperson when deemed necessary, or upon the request of at least one-third (1/3) of the members. The Chairperson shall preside over the meetings. In the event that the Chairperson is unable to perform these duties due to unavoidable circumstances, a member designated in advance by the Chairperson shall act on his or her behalf.

A meeting shall be constituted by the attendance of a majority of the members, and resolutions shall be passed by a majority of the members present. However, resolutions concerning the adjudication of research misconduct or the retraction of articles shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all members.

In urgent cases or when the Chairperson deems it necessary, deliberations may be conducted in writing or by electronic means in lieu of a physical meeting.

Recusal of Members

A member who is an author, reviewer, or handling editor of the manuscript under review, or who otherwise has a conflict of interest that may compromise impartial deliberation, shall be recused from the deliberation and decision of the relevant case. Any member who recognizes such a conflict shall promptly disclose it to the Chairperson.

Investigation and Adjudication Procedures

Reports of research misconduct shall, in principle, be submitted under the real name of the reporter. The Committee shall initiate an investigation only when the report is specific and supported by evidence. Anonymous reports may be considered when accompanied by sufficient documentary evidence at the discretion of the Chairperson.

Prior to commencing an investigation, the Committee shall provide the respondent with an opportunity to present an explanation. Investigation and adjudication procedures shall follow, in principle, the standard flowcharts provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The Committee shall, in principle, complete its investigation and adjudication within ninety (90) days from the receipt of a report. The period may be extended by resolution of the Committee for justifiable reasons.

Protection of Reporters and Respondents

The Committee shall protect the identity of the reporter and take necessary measures to ensure that the reporter does not suffer any disadvantage as a result of reporting.

The respondent shall not be subjected to any disadvantageous treatment without justifiable grounds until research misconduct has been confirmed. The Committee shall guarantee sufficient opportunities for the respondent to present statements and to file appeals.

Measures Following Adjudication

When research misconduct is confirmed by the Committee, the following measures may be imposed individually or in combination:

• • Correction or retraction notice for the article concerned.
• • Prohibition of submission to the journal by the author concerned for a period of up to five (5) years.
• • Notification to the author's affiliated institution and funding agency.
• • Any other measures deemed necessary by the Committee, including notification to relevant academic societies and institutions.

Appeals

A reporter or respondent who objects to the decision of the Committee may file a written appeal with the Committee within thirty (30) days from the date of notification of the decision. The Committee shall review the appeal and notify the appellant of its decision within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the appeal.

Confidentiality and Retention of Records

Committee members, the secretary, and any persons involved in the investigation shall maintain confidentiality regarding all information obtained during the investigation and deliberation, and shall not disclose or divulge such information externally without the approval of the Committee. This obligation shall continue after the expiration of their terms.

The minutes of the Committee meetings and documents related to investigations shall be retained by the Editorial Office for a minimum of five (5) years from the date the decision becomes final.

Supplementary Provisions and Amendment

Matters not specified in these regulations shall be governed, mutatis mutandis, by the ICMJE Recommendations, COPE Guidelines, the KAMJE Good Publication Practice Guidelines for Medical Journals, and relevant domestic laws and regulations.

Amendments to these regulations shall require the attendance of a majority of the Editorial Board members and the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those present.

These regulations shall take effect on the date of resolution by the Editorial Board. They shall also apply to any matters that have been received and are pending deliberation or processing at the time of their enactment.