Publication and Research Ethics

Ethical Approval for Human Research

Authors reporting experiments involving human subjects must confirm that all procedures comply with the ethical standards of the responsible Ethical Review Committee (ERC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) and align with the latest version of the Helsinki Declaration.

  • Patient Confidentiality: Authors must not use patients’ names, initials, or hospital numbers in the manuscript or illustrative materials to protect privacy.

  • Ethical Approval Requirement: Every manuscript submitted to AMRJ must be accompanied by ethical approval from an ERC or IRB. The approval statement must be:

    • Issued on the official letterhead of the ERC/IRB.

    • Duly signed and stamped by the Chairperson.

  • Prospective Approval: Studies must receive ethical approval before initiation. Retrospective approvals will not be accepted.

  • National Clinical Trial Registration: Manuscripts reporting clinical trials with a National Clinical Trial Number will be given preference.

  • Exemption for Non-Human Contact Studies: Research that does not involve direct human contact requires an exemption letter from the ERC/IRB confirming ethical compliance before the project’s start date.

  • Ethical Approval from Alternative Institutions: If an institution lacks an ERC/IRB, ethical approval must be obtained from another recognized institution that adheres to international research ethics standards.

Informed Consent Policy

For studies involving human subjects, authors must obtain written informed consent from all participants (or their legal guardians, where applicable) before conducting the research.

  • The informed consent process should clearly explain the study’s purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits.

  • Participants must be assured of their right to withdraw without consequences.

  • A statement confirming informed consent was obtained must be included in the manuscript.

  • In cases where obtaining written consent is impractical, justification and the ERC/IRB’s approval of the alternative consent procedure must be provided.

  • Failure to comply with these ethical requirements may result in manuscript rejection.