International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST) follows the policies of standard publication guidelines to provide the broad guidelines to meet publication’s code of conduct as endorsed by COPE. This is because the purpose of LM is to only publish research that adheres to certain protocols and principles as well as to build stock within the scientific and technological worlds. Publication ethics policy is a detailed policy that helps everyone who participates in the publication process including authors, editors, reviewers and publishers.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors:

1. Originality and Plagiarism: Authors are required to confirm their findings and submit their work without prior publishing on other media. When using what others’ have said, written or researched, fair use must be practised by quoting or citing. With regard to duplicate and redundant publication and self-plagiarism, authors act unethically and such papers will be either rejected immediately or other punitive measures may be taken against them. In the case the plagiarism is found during or after publication, the actions related to the retraction will be taken.
2. Accurate Reporting of Research: Authors and researchers work under the obligation to represent their research outcomes truthfully and in a way that does not involve fabrication, falsification or prejudices. The data and results reported should not be fictitious and where possible should be supported by extra details that will enable replication of the study.
3. Authorship Criteria: I have given the list of authors as per theiaz guidelines based on those who have contributed for the research. All authors contributing to a particular manuscript should have reviewed the final draught as well as agreed to the publication. The it also lies on the corresponding author to see to it that everyone is accorded due credit.
4. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors are required to declare any explicit or implicit financial or non-financial instant that is likely to predispose them or influence the study’s findings and analysis in any way. This helps to make the publication process becoming more credible.
5. Acknowledgment of Sources: It is important to recognise all sources of information, funding of research, prior literature, etc. Essential all forms of financial support or Institutional support must be declared.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers:

1. Confidentiality: Reviewers are thus required to handle submitted papers as and when they are assigned as privileged information. Material that has been reviewed in peer review cannot be utilised for the benefit of an individual or shared with others without the permission of the editor.
2. Constructive Feedback: Reviewers are expected to write their review without any prejudice and with intention to assist authors in improving the manuscript. It is important that criticism be done in a civil and professional manner and no name calling or use of harsh words.
3. Timely Review: Reviewers should consent to review manuscripts only if they can render a constructive review is within the proposed or mutually agreed time. Getting the feedback immediately assists the flow of the editorial process, and is favourable not only to the authors, but to readers as well.
4. Conflict of Interest: A reviewer should always disclose any conflict of interest be it personal, professional or financial should they have and should exclude themselves from the process of reviewing.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors:

1. Fair and Objective Decision-Making: Editors are required to respond positively to authors’ submissions in a non- discrimination manner, without looking at the race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or political philosophy of authors of the manuscripts submitted for publication.
2. Confidentiality: Manuscript editors are required to protect all the details regarding the submitted manuscript and reveal such details to only the users involved in the publication process.
3. Publication Decisions: The right to accept or reject manuscripts lies with the editors due to the assessments of the quality, novelty, and relevance of manuscripts to the journal’s domain. Many of the editorial decisions should therefore be guided by the feedback from the reviewers together with the significance and relevance of the research in the management of diseases.
4. Handling Complaints and Ethical Violations: As part of the best practise, editors are encourage to act swiftly and impartially in any case where there are ethical issues that have been reported on a submitted or published manuscript. This may entail engaging in an interaction with authors, reviewers and institutions if necessary, to address concerns; or may also entail withdrawal, or correction of published papers where necessary.

Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher:

1. Support for Journal Ethics: The publisher needs to undertake that the journal adheres to high ethical standards and helps its editors, authors, and reviewers to do the same.
2. Protecting Intellectual Property: Several real-life ethical cases of misconduct or malpractice reported in published articles are the ethical responsibility of the publisher to address and defend the published work.
3. Post-Publication Oversight: Should any ethical concern arise after the publication of articles, the publisher/ editor will address the issue in cooperation with the editorial board conducting investigation in accordance to COPE regulation.

Post-Publication Protocols:

Where ethical issues or errors are realised after an article has been published, it shall be handled by IJST where an investigation will be conducted thoroughly. This may include issuing of correction notices, retractions or even statements of concern, while at the same time being fully telepathic with the authors and other readers. The journal’s main purpose in these circumstances is to protect the integrity and the scholarly reputation of the academic record.

Despite the situation, the International Journal of Science and Technology continues publishing articles and promoting ethical practise and integrity in science and technology production, as well as protecting the reputation of the scientific community.