• Human Rights

    Ethical Standards for Research Involving Human Subjects

    The International Meetings and Journals Research Association (IMCRA) requires that all research involving human participants published in its journals strictly adheres to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, as revised by the World Medical Association in 2013.

    🔹 Ethical Approval

    All manuscripts reporting studies involving human subjects must include a clear statement of ethical approval. This includes confirmation that:

    • The study was reviewed and approved by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Ethics Committee, or other appropriate national, regional, or local ethics authority.

    • The research was conducted in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies.

    • Ethical approval was obtained prior to the commencement of the study, and the purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits were explained to participants.

    The name of the approving institution or ethics committee and the reference number (if applicable) must be included in the manuscript.

    Example statement:
    "This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution Name] (Approval No. XXX/202X), and all procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision)."

    🔹 Informed Consent

    Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legal guardians, and that participation was voluntary. This includes:

    • Consent for participation in the study

    • Consent for publication, if identifiable information is involved

    If the research involves minors or vulnerable populations, additional safeguards must be described in the manuscript.

    🔹 Privacy and Confidentiality

    Patient and participant privacy and confidentiality must be strictly protected. Manuscripts should not include any identifying information, such as:

    • Full names

    • Personal identification numbers

    • Addresses or contact details

    • Images that reveal identity

    • Hospital record numbers

    If there is a compelling reason to include such information (e.g., clinical images), explicit written consent must be obtained and documented in the submission.

    Example:
    "Written informed consent for publication of this case and any accompanying images was obtained from the patient."

    🔹 Non-Compliance

    Submissions that do not comply with these ethical standards may be:

    • Rejected prior to review

    • Returned to the authors for revision

    • Retracted if violations are discovered post-publication

    🎯 Commitment to Ethical Research

    IMCRA and its journals are committed to upholding the dignity, rights, and welfare of research participants. Authors, editors, and reviewers share responsibility for ensuring that published research meets the highest ethical and scientific standards.

    For additional guidance, authors may consult: