Confidentiality and Ethics

Editors at Heighpubs Otolaryngology and Rhinology (HOR) have both a professional and ethical obligation to safeguard the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and the peer review process. This page outlines best practices for editors in maintaining confidentiality and ethical conduct, consistent with the COPE Core Practices, ICMJE recommendations, and WAME guidelines.

Principles of Confidentiality

  • All manuscripts submitted to HOR are treated as confidential documents.
  • Editors must not disclose manuscript details to anyone outside the editorial and peer review process.
  • Reviewer and author identities (in double-blind review) must be protected.
  • Editors may consult colleagues only with prior approval and for legitimate academic purposes.

Editorial Conduct and Ethics

  • Editors must act impartially, free from personal or institutional bias.
  • Editorial decisions must be based solely on scientific merit and relevance.
  • Editors may not exploit unpublished data for personal research or gain.

Handling Sensitive Information

  • Editors must securely store manuscripts and related correspondence.
  • Reviewer comments must remain confidential and not be shared outside the process.
  • Editors should anonymize sensitive patient information in case reports and clinical images.

Conflict of Interest in Confidentiality

  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.
  • Any editor with a potential conflict must transfer the case to another qualified editor.

Dealing with Breaches

Breaches of confidentiality are considered serious ethical violations. HOR will investigate any breach in line with COPE procedures and may impose sanctions, including removal from editorial duties.

Ethical Handling of Misconduct

If editors suspect plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or ethical misconduct, they must handle cases transparently using COPE flowcharts. Confidentiality must be preserved during investigations to protect all parties involved.

Best Practices for Editors

  • Communicate decisions clearly, without disclosing confidential reviewer identities.
  • Respect the trust placed in editors by authors and reviewers.
  • Participate in ongoing ethics training and COPE workshops.

Example: If an editor receives a manuscript from a close colleague, they must declare the conflict, ensure confidentiality, and delegate review management to another editor.

FAQs

Can editors discuss manuscripts outside the review team?

No, all discussions must remain within the formal editorial workflow.

What if a reviewer contacts an editor to disclose author identity?

Editors must maintain reviewer anonymity and remind reviewers of confidentiality obligations.

Can editors use unpublished data for personal use?

No, unpublished material must not be exploited for personal, academic, or financial gain.

How should editors handle confidentiality breaches?

Report immediately to the Editor-in-Chief, who will investigate per COPE guidance.

Contact Information