Publication Ethics

At the Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH), we are committed to upholding the highest levels of integrity, transparency, and professionalism in academic publishing. This ethics policy establishes a framework to promote trust, accountability, and excellence within the scholarly community.

By prioritizing ethical publishing practices, we ensure that authors, reviewers, and editors follow established guidelines and standards. This policy clearly defines the core responsibilities and expectations for everyone engaged in the publication process.

 

General Principles

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) strictly adheres to the ethical standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that they have carefully reviewed and agreed to its content, ensuring that it complies with all of the journal's policies and ethical guidelines.

Affiliations

All authors are required to provide a complete list of their affiliations to appropriately acknowledge the institutions or organizations involved in approving, funding, or conducting the research or academic work.

  • For non-research articles, authors must include their current institutional affiliation.
  • If an author has changed institutions before the article's publication, they should list the affiliation associated with the research while also indicating their current affiliation.
  • Authors without a current institutional affiliation must clearly state their independent status.

Appeals and Complaints

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) adheres to the ethical guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for handling appeals and complaints regarding editorial decisions or the peer review process.

Authors are encouraged to submit genuine appeals if they can provide substantial evidence or new data that addresses the editor’s and reviewers’ feedback. The editorial team ensures that all appeals are reviewed fairly and transparently.

For submitting appeals or raising complaints, please contact us at appeals@mesopotamian.press.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments should appropriately recognize individuals or organizations that contributed to the development of the manuscript but do not meet the criteria for authorship. This includes acknowledging support in areas such as funding, technical assistance, and editorial help.

  • Financial Support: Clearly specify funding sources and provide detailed information about grants.
  • Editorial and Technical Assistance: Recognize contributions like language editing, data analysis, or access to specialized equipment.

Proper acknowledgment ensures transparency and upholds integrity in scholarly research. Authors are encouraged to credit any assistance received from colleagues, mentors, or institutions that supported the study.

Authorship

Authorship in the Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) signifies meaningful contributions to the research’s design, execution, and manuscript preparation. It serves as a formal acknowledgment of individual roles and ensures accountability for the accuracy and quality of the work.

Authorship Criteria
To qualify for authorship, individuals must meet all the following conditions:

  • Substantial Contributions: Played a significant role in the study’s conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, or interpretation of results.
  • Manuscript Development: Contributed to drafting or critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content.
  • Final Approval: Reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript, including any revisions.
  • Accountability: Accepted responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the research and will address any issues that arise.

Those who do not meet these criteria should not be listed as authors but can be acknowledged for their support in the acknowledgment section.

Authorship Order
The order of authors should reflect each individual’s level of contribution to the research. Any disputes regarding authorship order must be resolved among the authors before submission. Changes to the author list after submission require approval from all listed authors.

Changes to Authorship
Requests to add or remove authors after submission must be justified with a detailed explanation and accompanied by written consent from all authors, including those affected. A completed Change of Authorship Form must also be submitted. The journal reserves the right to reject authorship changes that lack proper justification or consent.

For changes made after publication, corrections will be issued through post-publication notifications. Significant changes after acceptance will only be considered with strong justification and clear evidence of contribution.

Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author

The corresponding author holds a key role throughout the submission, review, and publication process. Their responsibilities include:

  • Communication: Acting as the primary contact between the journal and co-authors, ensuring all authors are informed of the manuscript’s status.
  • Approval: Confirming that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript prior to submission.
  • Compliance: Verifying that the manuscript meets the journal’s submission guidelines and ethical standards.

The corresponding author must also resolve any disputes related to authorship or contributions during the review process. If disagreements result in manuscript withdrawal, a completed Manuscript Withdrawal Form must be submitted to disputes@mesopotamian.press with consent from all co-authors.

Citations

Maintaining academic integrity and credibility in scholarly publishing requires proper citation practices. The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) mandates that authors provide accurate and relevant citations for all sources referenced in their manuscripts.

General Citation Guidelines
All claims, data, and arguments presented must be supported by credible, relevant, and current sources. Authors are encouraged to prioritize peer-reviewed literature and avoid referencing unreliable or unverifiable materials.

  • Accuracy: Ensure all citations are correctly formatted and accurately reference the appropriate sources.
  • Balance: Present a balanced review of the existing literature without overemphasizing the work of a single author, group, or publication.
  • Self-Citation: Avoid excessive self-citation that could artificially inflate personal or institutional citation metrics.

Non-Research Articles
For non-research submissions, such as reviews or opinion pieces, citations must provide a comprehensive and unbiased overview of the topic. Selective citation practices that misrepresent the depth or scope of the field should be avoided.

Citation Manipulation
The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) strictly prohibits any form of citation manipulation, which includes the intentional use of citations to unfairly increase metrics or benefit specific individuals or journals without valid academic justification.

Examples of citation manipulation include:

  • Excessive self-citation to inflate personal or institutional citation counts.
  • Reciprocal agreements between authors or groups to cite each other's work inappropriately.
  • Inclusion of irrelevant citations that do not contribute meaningfully to the manuscript.

Any detected citation manipulation will be thoroughly investigated, and manuscripts involved in such practices may be rejected or retracted.

Uncertain Sources
If authors are uncertain about the credibility or relevance of a source, they should consult the journal’s editorial office before including it in their manuscript. This ensures that all citations contribute effectively to the research and meet ethical standards.

Conflicts of Interest

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) is committed to maintaining transparency and accountability in scholarly publishing. Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their work or decision-making processes.

Disclosure by Authors
Authors must fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or professional, that could impact the research or its interpretation. This includes:

  • Financial Support: Grants, sponsorships, or any funding related to the research or manuscript development.
  • Institutional Relationships: Affiliations with organizations that might benefit from the research findings.
  • Competing Interests: Any personal or professional interests that could compromise the objectivity of the research.

Authors are required to complete and submit the Conflict of Interest Form during the manuscript submission process.

Disclosure by Reviewers
Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise their ability to provide a fair and objective review. This may include:

  • Collaborative or personal relationships with the authors.
  • Financial interests connected to the manuscript’s findings.
  • Professional associations that could introduce bias.

If any conflict is identified, reviewers are encouraged to decline the review invitation and notify the editorial office.

Disclosure by Editors
Editors must also disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could impact their editorial decisions. This includes:

  • Relationships with authors, reviewers, or their affiliated institutions.
  • Financial or professional stakes in the manuscript's content or outcomes.

When conflicts arise, editors are expected to delegate editorial decisions to an impartial member of the editorial board.

By enforcing these policies, MJAIH upholds the integrity, objectivity, and credibility of its publication processes.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) is dedicated to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal adheres to established guidelines to address significant errors, concerns, and cases of research misconduct through corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.

Corrections

A correction notice is issued when errors or omissions in a published article could impact its interpretation but do not compromise its overall scholarly integrity. Examples of such errors include:

  • Minor inaccuracies in figures or graphical content.
  • Missing information in funding acknowledgments.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Types of Correction Notices:

  • Corrigendum: Issued to correct mistakes made by the authors.
  • Erratum: Issued to correct errors introduced by the publisher.

Retractions

A retraction notice is issued when critical issues, such as major methodological flaws or data inaccuracies, invalidate the findings of an article. Retractions are also issued in response to serious research misconduct, including:

  • Ethical violations, such as conducting research without necessary approvals.
  • Data fabrication or falsification.
  • Plagiarism.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.

Retractions follow the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and can be requested by authors, editors, or affiliated institutions.

Retraction Procedures:

  • The retraction notice will be linked to the original article and vice versa.
  • The article will be clearly labeled as "Retracted" in both HTML and PDF versions.
  • The reason for the retraction will be clearly explained.
  • The individual or organization requesting the retraction will be identified.

Retractions serve to correct the scholarly record and uphold integrity without penalizing the authors.

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when there are serious but unresolved concerns about a published article, and conclusive evidence is pending or under investigation. Examples include:

  • Suspected research misconduct that is under investigation.
  • Ethical concerns requiring further review.

After the investigation, the expression of concern may be updated with a correction or retraction. Both will remain as part of the article’s permanent record.

Removals

In rare and exceptional cases, a removal notice may be issued if an article is found to be defamatory, violates legal rights, or is subject to a legal order. A removal notice will replace the removed content and include a brief explanation of the reason for removal.

Consent for Publication

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) requires written informed consent when manuscripts include personal information, images, or other identifying materials related to individuals. Authors must follow these guidelines to ensure ethical compliance.

Consent Requirements:

  • Authors must obtain explicit written consent from individuals or their legal representatives before including personal or identifiable information.
  • Consent must cover publication under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, allowing open access to the content.
  • For individuals under 18, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian.
  • For deceased individuals, consent must be obtained from the next of kin.
  • Manuscripts must include a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained.

Consent Documentation:

  • Authors should use a standard consent form or one provided by their institution.
  • The form must explicitly state that the information or images will be publicly accessible online.
  • It should include acknowledgment of open access and details about the publication license.
  • Authors are responsible for securely storing signed consent forms and must provide them to the editorial office if requested. All consent forms will be handled confidentially and will not be publicly shared.

Author Responsibility:

  • Authors are solely responsible for obtaining, storing, and providing consent documentation.
  • The journal does not accept consent forms submitted with manuscripts or sent via email.
  • Authors must ensure that all consent forms are securely archived.

This policy ensures ethical publication practices while respecting the privacy and rights of individuals featured in published research.

Confidentiality

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) upholds strict confidentiality standards to ensure the integrity and privacy of the publication process. The following guidelines outline our approach to maintaining confidentiality:

Manuscript Confidentiality

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Access is limited to individuals directly involved in the editorial and review process, including the editorial team, reviewers, and essential administrative staff.

The content of submitted manuscripts must not be shared, discussed, or disclosed to any unauthorized individuals without explicit permission from the Editor-in-Chief.

Reviewer Obligations

Reviewers play a vital role in safeguarding the confidentiality of the peer-review process. They are required to:

  • Refrain from sharing or discussing manuscript content with anyone outside the review process.
  • Ensure that unpublished information, ideas, or interpretations obtained during the review process are not used for personal or professional gain.

Breaches of confidentiality by reviewers will be thoroughly investigated and may lead to disqualification from future review assignments.

Ethical Misconduct Investigations

In cases of suspected ethical misconduct, manuscript content may be shared with relevant institutions, organizations, or ethics committees to facilitate investigations. Such actions will align with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

MJAIH is committed to preserving the confidentiality of all parties involved during investigations, ensuring a fair and unbiased process.

Copyright Policy and Author Rights

Authors retain full copyright to their work published in the MJAIH. They also have the freedom to use their work for scholarly and educational purposes.

Upon acceptance, the journal receives non-exclusive rights to publish, reproduce, and distribute the work in all formats, promoting widespread dissemination of research while upholding author ownership.

Open Access Policy

The MJAIH operates under an open-access model, providing unrestricted access to published articles. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, share, print, and link to full-text articles without charge, provided proper attribution is given.

All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY 4.0), enabling both commercial and non-commercial use with appropriate credit to the original authors and source.

User Rights

The CC BY 4.0 License allows users to:

  • Distribute, copy, and transmit the work in any format.
  • Adapt, remix, or build upon the work for any purpose, including commercial use.
  • Provide proper credit to the authors and journal, including a link to the license and an indication of any modifications made.

This policy ensures maximum reach and impact for the authors’ research contributions.

Eligibility for Submission

Authors are eligible to submit their work to MJAIH if they hold the copyright to the content or have obtained explicit permission from the original copyright holder(s).

Submissions incorporating third-party content must include evidence of permission, ensuring compliance with copyright laws and ethical publishing practices.

Data Falsification/Fabrication

Data falsification and fabrication are severe violations of ethical conduct. These include intentionally altering or inventing data or findings with the intent to mislead. Such practices damage the credibility and reliability of academic research and the scholarly record.

Authors submitting to MJAIH must ensure that all data presented in their manuscripts accurately reflects the research conducted. Any fabrication or falsification of data will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript or retraction of a published article.

To support transparency, authors are required to retain all raw data for a specified period after publication. Upon request, authors must provide access to original data to support the peer review and editorial processes. Failure to comply may result in manuscript rejection or article withdrawal.

MJAIH enforces a zero-tolerance policy for data falsification or fabrication to maintain the integrity of scientific research and the journal’s reputation.

Desk Rejection Policy

The MJAIH employs a desk rejection policy to maintain the quality and relevance of submissions. Manuscripts may be rejected without peer review for the following reasons:

  • Misalignment with Scope: The topic or content does not align with the journal's focus.
  • Ethical Concerns: Non-compliance with international ethical standards, excessive plagiarism (over 20% similarity), or other ethical issues.
  • Insufficient Impact: Lack of significant contributions or advancement of knowledge.
  • Flawed Study Design: Methodological flaws compromising validity.
  • Unclear Objectives: Vague or incoherent study goals.
  • Poor Presentation: Disorganized structure, missing components, or lack of clarity.
  • Grammar and Language Issues: Significant grammatical or stylistic errors.
  • Non-Compliance with Guidelines: Failure to follow the Author Guidelines.

This policy ensures that only manuscripts meeting the journal’s high standards proceed to the peer review process. Authors are encouraged to carefully review the submission requirements to enhance their chances of acceptance.

Duplicate Submission/Publication

Duplicate Submission/Publication The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards concerning duplicate submissions and publications. Authors are required to explicitly confirm during the submission process that their manuscript is not being considered for publication by any other journal. Failing to disclose this information is regarded as a significant ethical breach.

Instances that constitute duplicate submission or publication include, but are not limited to:

  • Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to MJAIH and another journal simultaneously.
  • Redundant Publications: Publishing research that repeats previously published work without providing substantial new insights or findings.
  • Translation of Published Work: Submitting manuscripts that were previously published in another language without proper notification and disclosure.

In line with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines, authors intending to submit secondary publications, such as translated versions, must:

  • Secure explicit permission from the original publisher and copyright holder.
  • Fully disclose the previous publication to the Editor of MJAIH.

Secondary publications must clearly acknowledge the original publication by providing a citation and reference to ensure proper credit and maintain transparency.

Funding

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) prioritizes transparency in the disclosure of financial support related to research. Authors are obligated to disclose all funding sources, including grants, sponsorships, or any financial assistance received for conducting the research and publication process.

Funding Disclosure Guidelines:

  • Detailed Disclosure: Authors must provide a thorough account of all funding sources, specifying the name of the funding organization, grant numbers, and the role of funders in the research process.
  • Sponsor Involvement: If applicable, authors must detail the involvement of sponsors in the study's design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or publication. If there is no involvement, this should be explicitly stated.

Authors are required to complete and submit the Financial Disclosure Form along with their manuscript to ensure clarity and adherence to ethical publishing standards.

Images and Figures

When including images, videos, or audio recordings in manuscripts submitted to MJAIH, authors must comply with ethical standards. Authors are responsible for obtaining explicit written consent from individuals whose identifying information appears in photographs or medical data.

In cases involving deceased individuals, consent must be obtained from their legal representatives. For vulnerable groups, such as minors, consent must be obtained from parents or legal guardians.

Experimental Photographs:

  • Ensure that images, particularly those from microscopy, accurately reflect the original data.
  • Disclose any alterations to images within the manuscript, including details of the software and methods used.
  • Provide original, unaltered images to the editorial office upon request.
  • Avoid modifications that may mislead or distort scientific findings.

Reuse of Published Images

Authors must obtain permission from the copyright holders when reusing images or figures from previously published works. The figure legend should include confirmation of permission and proper citation of the original source. Even when using images under Creative Commons Licenses, proper attribution to the original source is mandatory.

Misconduct

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) upholds the strictest standards of academic integrity and actively addresses all forms of research misconduct. The journal follows the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Reports of misconduct are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly following COPE protocols.

Examples of research misconduct include:

  • Plagiarism: Using another person’s work or ideas without proper attribution.
  • Fabrication: Creating false data or results and presenting them as genuine.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes to misrepresent the research findings.
  • Duplicate Submission: Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time.
  • Misrepresentation: Providing false authorship or affiliation information.
  • Image Manipulation: Altering images in a manner that could mislead readers.

Addressing Misconduct:

  • Initial Assessment: The editorial team assesses the validity of the allegations.
  • Investigation: A comprehensive inquiry is conducted, involving authors, reviewers, or external experts as needed.
  • Outcome: Actions taken may include rejecting the manuscript, retracting the article, or informing relevant institutions and funding bodies.

Consequences:

  • Rejection of the manuscript at any stage.
  • Retraction of published articles with a detailed explanation.
  • Notification to the authors' institutions or funding organizations.
  • Banning the authors from future submissions.

Publication Ethics

MJAIH is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing, guided by the principles of COPE, ensuring a fair, transparent, and responsible publication process.

Duties of Editors:

  • Publication Decisions: Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are suitable for publication based on peer-review feedback and legal or ethical considerations, such as libel, copyright issues, and plagiarism.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain strict confidentiality about manuscript details, sharing information only with the corresponding author, reviewers, and necessary editorial staff.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must complete a Conflict of Interest Form to ensure transparency.

Duties of Reviewers:

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers assist editors in making informed decisions by providing objective, constructive feedback.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep manuscript content confidential.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts by submitting a Conflict of Interest Form.

Duties of Authors:

  • Reporting Standards: Authors must present an accurate account of research findings.
  • Originality: All submitted work must be original, with proper citations for borrowed ideas.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest using the Conflict of Interest Form.

Peer Review Process

MJAIH employs a rigorous peer review process to maintain the integrity and quality of published research.

Initial Assessment

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial review by the editorial team to evaluate their relevance to the journal's scope, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines. Manuscripts failing to meet these standards are desk-rejected and do not proceed to peer review.

Single-Blind Peer Review

MJAIH employs a single-blind peer review system, where reviewers remain anonymous while authors' identities are disclosed. This method guarantees impartiality and allows reviewers to provide unbiased feedback.

Typically, each manuscript is evaluated by at least two experts in the relevant field who assess its quality, originality, methodology, and significance. Reviewers are expected to offer constructive comments and actionable recommendations for improving the manuscript.

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer feedback, the editor may decide to:

  • Accept: Approve the manuscript with or without minor revisions.
  • Revise: Request major or minor revisions before further evaluation.
  • Reject: Decline the manuscript if it does not meet the journal's standards.

The editorial team communicates decisions and reviewer feedback to the corresponding author to ensure transparency throughout the process.

Appeals Process

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions by submitting a detailed response addressing reviewer comments or providing additional evidence to support their claims. Appeals are reviewed by the editorial board or independent experts. Final decisions are communicated to authors. Appeals can be submitted via appeals@mesopotamian.press.

Plagiarism Policy

MJAIH enforces a zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism in any form. Plagiarism includes the unauthorized use of another individual's work, ideas, or language without proper acknowledgment, including self-plagiarism and redundant publication.

Plagiarism Detection

All submissions are subjected to comprehensive plagiarism checks using advanced detection tools such as Turnitin. Manuscripts showing significant overlap with existing literature or prior publications will be rejected.

Authors must ensure the originality of their work by providing proper citations and references to avoid unintentional plagiarism.

Types of Plagiarism:

  • Full Plagiarism: Copying another's work verbatim without citation.
  • Partial Plagiarism: Paraphrasing or altering sections of another's work without proper acknowledgment.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing previously published work without disclosure.
  • Text Recycling: Reusing content from previous publications without proper attribution.

Consequences of Plagiarism:

  • Immediate rejection or retraction of the manuscript.
  • Notification to the author's affiliated institution or funding agency.
  • Blacklisting authors from future submissions to MJAIH.

MJAIH adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines when handling plagiarism cases.

Preprint Policy

MJAIH supports the sharing of research through preprint repositories. Authors may post their manuscripts on recognized preprint platforms, such as arXiv or RePEc, before submitting them to MJAIH.

Linking Preprints to Published Articles:

Upon acceptance, authors are encouraged to link their preprint to the published article using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to ensure accessibility to the authoritative version.

Authors may update the preprint with the accepted version of the manuscript, provided proper acknowledgment of the journal's publication is included.

Transparency and Integrity:

This policy facilitates early research dissemination while preserving the integrity of the publication process. Preprints must accurately reflect the research and comply with ethical standards. Significant changes must be communicated in the preprint repository.

Patient Identifying Information

MJAIH prioritizes the protection of patient privacy. Identifiable information, including images, videos, or personal data, must only be included with written informed consent.

Consent Requirements:

Written informed consent must be obtained from the patient or legal guardians. For deceased individuals, consent must be secured from the closest relative or legal representative.

Authors must ensure the exclusion of patient identifiers unless essential and consented to.

Anonymity and Ethical Compliance:

Authors must comply with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines. Manuscripts must include a statement confirming informed consent was obtained and ethical requirements were met. Efforts must be made to anonymize data while maintaining scientific integrity.

Research Ethics and Consent

MJAIH is committed to publishing research that adheres to the highest ethical standards. This includes obtaining appropriate ethical approvals for studies involving humans, animals, or plants.

Research Involving Humans:

Studies must follow ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors must obtain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee and provide detailed information, including the institution's name and approval reference number. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants.

Research Involving Animals:

Animal studies must comply with ethical guidelines such as those of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Manuscripts must include ethics approval details and describe measures to minimize animal suffering.

Research Involving Plants:

Plant research must comply with national and international regulations, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Authors must provide evidence of permissions or licenses for research activities.

Failure to comply with ethical standards may lead to manuscript rejection or withdrawal.

Special Issues

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) regularly organizes special issues to address emerging topics and critical themes in the field of artificial intelligence in healthcare. These special issues are designed to foster groundbreaking research and encourage collaboration among global scholars and professionals.

Appointment of Guest Editors

Guest editors for special issues are appointed based on their subject matter expertise, academic reputation, and prior editorial experience. Nominations can be made by the editorial board, current editors, or through self-nomination by interested candidates.

All nominations undergo a rigorous review process by the Editor-in-Chief to ensure the highest standards of scholarship and editorial integrity.

Guest editors are entrusted with the following responsibilities:

  • Defining the theme, scope, and objectives of the special issue.
  • Drafting and widely disseminating the call for papers.
  • Managing the manuscript submission and peer-review process.
  • Ensuring the originality and scholarly quality of the selected articles.
  • Collaborating with the Editor-in-Chief on final publication decisions.

Setup of Special Issues

To initiate a special issue, prospective guest editors must submit a detailed proposal to the editorial board. The proposal should include:

  • A clearly defined theme and objectives of the special issue.
  • The significance and relevance of the topic to the target audience.
  • The names, qualifications, and affiliations of proposed guest editors.
  • A proposed timeline for manuscript submissions, peer reviews, and publication.

Once the proposal is approved by the editorial board and the Editor-in-Chief, the call for papers is disseminated through various academic and professional channels. The editorial team works closely with guest editors to ensure the issue aligns with the journal's quality standards and publication timeline.

Standards of Reporting

MJAIH emphasizes the importance of transparent, detailed, and high-quality reporting to ensure the reproducibility and verification of research. Authors are expected to adhere to the following reporting standards:

  • Rationale: Clearly articulate the study's purpose, research questions, and objectives.
  • Research Protocol: Provide comprehensive details of the methodology to allow for replication.
  • Tools and Techniques: Describe all tools, techniques, and software used, including version numbers.
  • Data Analysis: Offer a transparent explanation of data collection, processing, and analysis procedures.
  • Results and Interpretation: Present findings objectively, avoiding overgeneralizations or misleading conclusions.

Following these standards enhances the credibility and impact of published research, supporting the advancement of knowledge in artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Use of Third-Party Material

Authors who incorporate third-party materials into their manuscripts must comply with all copyright and licensing regulations. Third-party materials include text, images, tables, datasets, audio clips, and videos that were not created by the authors.

  • Permissions: Authors must secure written permission from copyright holders for any third-party materials used, except when the material is in the public domain or qualifies for fair use.
  • Fair Use: Short excerpts for critique, commentary, or educational use may be permissible under fair use, provided appropriate attribution is given.
  • Attribution: Proper credit must be given to all third-party materials, including those under Creative Commons Licenses.

Authors should retain documentation of permissions and be prepared to provide these to the editorial office upon request to ensure ethical compliance.

Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Writing

MJAIH recognizes the role of generative AI and AI-assisted tools in enhancing the writing process but stresses that these tools must not replace core authorial responsibilities.

  • Purpose: AI tools can assist in improving language and readability but must not generate scientific insights or conclusions.
  • Supervision: All AI-generated content must be reviewed and edited by authors for accuracy.
  • Accountability: Authors are fully responsible for the integrity and accuracy of their manuscripts, including any AI-assisted content.

Disclosure and Transparency:

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation. This disclosure will be acknowledged in the published work to ensure transparency and accountability.

Authorship Responsibilities:

AI tools cannot be credited as authors. Authorship requires fulfilling essential responsibilities that only human contributors can meet:

  • Addressing questions about the manuscript's accuracy or integrity.
  • Approving the final manuscript for submission.
  • Ensuring originality and compliance with ethical guidelines.

Use of AI in Peer Review

MJAIH acknowledges the potential of AI in academic workflows but strictly limits its use in the peer-review process to protect confidentiality and maintain ethical standards.

  • Human Responsibility: The critical analysis required in peer review must be performed by human reviewers and editors.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers and editors must not upload any manuscript content into AI tools due to data privacy and intellectual property concerns.
  • Peer Review Reports: Peer review reports, decision letters, and related communications must remain confidential and not be processed by AI tools.
  • AI in Decision-Making: AI tools cannot be used to evaluate the quality, validity, or impact of a manuscript. All editorial decisions must be made by qualified human reviewers and editors.

Ethical Use of AI:

MJAIH supports the ethical use of AI in initial editorial tasks, such as plagiarism detection and reviewer identification, provided that confidentiality and ethical standards are maintained.

Acknowledgment of Ethical Standards

MJAIH adheres to the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing, guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm their compliance with these standards. Reviewers and editors are likewise committed to maintaining objectivity, confidentiality, and fairness throughout the editorial process.

In instances of suspected misconduct, MJAIH follows COPE’s guidelines to conduct thorough investigations and take appropriate actions, fostering a trustworthy and accountable publication environment.

Closing Statements

The Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (MJAIH) is steadfast in upholding transparency, integrity, and ethical standards throughout the publication process. By adhering to globally recognized ethical frameworks, MJAIH fosters trust, accountability, and academic excellence.

All contributors—including authors, reviewers, and editors—are encouraged to uphold these principles to ensure responsible knowledge dissemination. These comprehensive ethics policies safeguard the rights and responsibilities of all involved and promote excellence in academic publishing.