Immortalis Journal of Health Law and Public Policy (IJHLPP) is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal considers plagiarism and other forms of intellectual misconduct serious violations of publication ethics. All manuscripts submitted to IJHLPP must represent original scholarly work, with appropriate acknowledgment of all sources, ideas, arguments, data, and previously published materials. This policy is established in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics principles, particularly the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Originality and Proper Attribution

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and that all ideas, arguments, quotations, research findings, and materials derived from other sources are properly acknowledged. Plagiarism includes the direct copying of text without appropriate citation, the use of another author's ideas without attribution, inappropriate paraphrasing, and the reproduction of tables, figures, data, or other intellectual materials without proper acknowledgment or permission where required.

The journal also considers self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and redundant publication as potential violations of publication ethics. Authors must not reproduce substantial portions of their previously published work without appropriate disclosure, citation, and justification. Manuscripts that have been published elsewhere or are simultaneously under consideration by another journal will not be accepted, except for permitted forms of prior dissemination, such as preprints, provided that these are disclosed in accordance with journal policy.

Particular attention is given to manuscripts addressing legal and public policy issues. Authors must accurately acknowledge the sources of legislation, judicial decisions, government regulations, policy documents, institutional reports, and scholarly interpretations used in their analysis.

Similarity Screening and Assessment

All manuscripts submitted to IJHLPP undergo similarity screening before being considered for external peer review. The journal may employ recognized similarity-checking software, including Turnitin or iThenticate, to identify textual similarities with previously published academic works, online materials, and other available sources.

IJHLPP applies a maximum similarity threshold of 20% as an initial screening guideline. This threshold serves as an editorial reference rather than an absolute measure of plagiarism. Similarity arising from properly cited quotations, references, standard terminology, legal provisions, and commonly used academic expressions must be evaluated in context. Consequently, a similarity report is not interpreted solely on the basis of its overall percentage.

The editorial team examines the originality report to determine the nature, distribution, and significance of the identified similarities. A manuscript with a similarity score below 20% may still be considered problematic if substantial unattributed material is identified. Conversely, a manuscript exceeding the threshold may be considered for further evaluation if the similarities are legitimate and appropriately attributed. 

Editorial Handling of Plagiarism

When potential plagiarism or inappropriate textual overlap is identified, the editorial team conducts an assessment based on the available evidence and the nature of the suspected violation. Authors may be contacted to provide clarification, supporting documentation, or a revised manuscript where appropriate.

Depending on the seriousness of the findings, the journal may take the following actions:

• Request clarification regarding the identified similarities.

• Return the manuscript for correction and proper attribution.

• Require substantial revision before further consideration.

• Reject the manuscript when significant plagiarism or publication misconduct is established.

• Refer serious cases of suspected misconduct to the authors' affiliated institutions or relevant authorities, where appropriate.

All allegations are handled fairly, confidentially, and objectively. Authors are given a reasonable opportunity to respond to allegations before a final decision is made, taking into account the circumstances and seriousness of the case. The journal follows relevant COPE recommendations when investigating suspected publication misconduct.

Responsibilities of Authors and Editorial Team

Authors bear primary responsibility for the originality and integrity of their submitted work. They must ensure that all borrowed materials are properly cited, quotations are clearly identified, and reproduced copyrighted content is supported by the necessary permissions. Authors are also expected to disclose any substantial overlap between their submission and their previous publications or other related manuscripts.

The editorial team is responsible for conducting similarity assessments consistently and ensuring that editorial decisions are based on evidence rather than similarity percentages alone. Editors must maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation and avoid making premature judgments without appropriate examination of the manuscript and the authors' explanations.

Post-Publication Cases

Plagiarism or other forms of publication misconduct may occasionally be identified after an article has been published. In such circumstances, IJHLPP will investigate the allegation and determine the appropriate editorial response to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Depending on the findings, the journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, or retract the affected article. Retraction may be considered when substantial plagiarism, unreliable content, or serious violations of publication ethics are established. Any corrective action will be accompanied by an appropriate notice explaining the reasons for the decision and will be linked to the original article.

Authors who disagree with a plagiarism-related editorial decision may submit a formal appeal to the editorial office, accompanied by relevant explanations and supporting evidence. Appeals will be reviewed impartially by the Editor-in-Chief or an independent editorial representative, where appropriate.

Academic Integrity Commitment

By submitting a manuscript to Immortalis Journal of Health Law and Public Policy (IJHLPP), authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this policy and uphold the principles of originality, proper attribution, transparency, and academic integrity. The journal reserves the right to reject submissions or take appropriate corrective measures whenever violations of publication ethics are established.