Plagiarism Policy

MEDICA (International Medical Scientific Journal) is committed to maintaining academic integrity, originality, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. Plagiarism and other forms of publication misconduct are strictly prohibited. All submitted manuscripts must represent original work, appropriately acknowledge the contributions of other authors, and comply with recognized publication ethics standards.

1. Similarity Index Requirement

All manuscripts submitted to MEDICA are subject to plagiarism screening using plagiarism detection software or other reliable similarity-checking tools.

The journal applies a maximum similarity index of 20% as a general screening threshold. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected, depending on the extent, nature, and distribution of the detected similarities.

A similarity index below or equal to 20% does not automatically guarantee acceptance. The editorial team will examine the similarity report to determine whether the identified similarities are appropriately cited and whether any form of plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse is present.

References, properly cited quotations, standard methodological descriptions, and commonly used technical terminology may contribute to the similarity score. However, such content must be assessed in context and must not be used to conceal plagiarism or substantial duplication.

2. Forms of Plagiarism

MEDICA considers the following practices to constitute plagiarism or potential publication misconduct:

  1. Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, sentences, paragraphs, data, or other materials from another source without appropriate acknowledgment or quotation.

  2. Mosaic Plagiarism: Combining phrases or passages from multiple sources without proper attribution, including minor word changes that do not adequately distinguish the original work.

  3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Presenting another person's ideas, findings, or arguments in different words without appropriate citation.

  4. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling: Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without proper acknowledgment, disclosure, or justification.

  5. Data, Figure, and Image Plagiarism: Using another person's data, tables, figures, images, illustrations, or other research materials without proper citation or permission where required.

  6. Unattributed Translation: Translating and presenting another person's published work in a different language without appropriate acknowledgment and permission where required.

  7. Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Submitting or publishing substantially overlapping work without adequate disclosure or a legitimate scholarly justification.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to MEDICA are responsible for ensuring the originality and integrity of their work. Authors must:

  • Submit manuscripts that are original and have not been published previously, except where an expressly permitted form of prior dissemination has been disclosed and accepted by the journal.

  • Properly cite and acknowledge all sources, ideas, data, and materials obtained from other works.

  • Use quotation marks and appropriate citations when reproducing exact wording.

  • Obtain permission for copyrighted material when required.

  • Disclose any substantial overlap with the authors' previously published or concurrently submitted work.

  • Review and correct inappropriate similarities before submission or during the revision process.

  • Ensure that all listed authors accept responsibility for the integrity of the manuscript.

4. Editorial Screening and Assessment

The editorial team will conduct an initial similarity assessment before or during the peer-review process. The assessment will consider both the overall similarity percentage and the specific sources and passages identified in the report.

A similarity score is an indicator for editorial assessment, not a definitive determination of plagiarism. The editorial team will evaluate the context of the similarities, the adequacy of citations, the originality of the research contribution, and whether the manuscript contains inappropriate duplication.

Where necessary, the editor may request clarification, revised text, additional citations, or other supporting information from the authors. Manuscripts may be referred for further ethical assessment when serious concerns arise.

5. Actions in Cases of Plagiarism

Depending on the severity and circumstances of the case, MEDICA may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Return the manuscript to the authors for correction and resubmission.

  2. Request a detailed explanation or clarification regarding the identified similarities.

  3. Reject the manuscript when plagiarism, substantial unattributed reuse, or other serious ethical violations are established.

  4. Suspend the editorial process while an investigation is conducted.

  5. Retract or correct a published article when a substantiated case of plagiarism or serious publication misconduct is identified.

  6. Notify the authors' affiliated institution or other relevant authorities when warranted by the seriousness of the case and applicable ethical procedures.

All actions will be proportionate to the nature and severity of the misconduct and will follow the journal's publication ethics procedures.

6. Plagiarism in Published Articles

If plagiarism is suspected or reported after publication, MEDICA will assess the available evidence and conduct an appropriate investigation. The authors may be contacted for an explanation, and relevant institutions or other parties may be consulted when necessary.

If plagiarism or serious publication misconduct is confirmed, the journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, depending on the circumstances. Any editorial action will be documented transparently in accordance with applicable publication ethics standards.

7. Use of Similarity Reports

Similarity reports are treated as confidential editorial documents and are used to support the assessment of manuscript originality. Access to these reports is restricted to authorized editorial personnel and other parties involved in the evaluation when necessary.

Authors may be informed of relevant findings and asked to address identified concerns. The journal will not rely solely on the similarity percentage when making decisions about plagiarism.

8. Commitment to Publication Ethics

MEDICA (International Medical Scientific Journal) upholds the principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to observe the journal's publication ethics policies and contribute to the prevention of plagiarism and other forms of research misconduct.

By submitting a manuscript to MEDICA, authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this Plagiarism Policy and understand that manuscripts may be screened and assessed for originality at any stage of the editorial and publication process.

Similarity Threshold: Maximum 20%. All manuscripts remain subject to editorial evaluation, regardless of their similarity score.