Plagiarism Policy

Impact Surgery maintains a strict stance against all forms of plagiarism, including direct copying, unattributed paraphrasing, and inappropriate reuse of previously published material. Plagiarism undermines the integrity of scientific publishing and breaches the trust of our readers, reviewers, and the wider research community.

Definition and Scope

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another person’s words, data, images, or ideas without appropriate acknowledgement. This includes direct copying, close paraphrasing without citation, reuse of one’s own previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism), and the incorporation of copyrighted material without permission. All forms of plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, are treated seriously.

Screening Process

Every manuscript submitted to Impact Surgery undergoes a formal software-based plagiarism check prior to acceptance. We use reputable detection tools to identify overlaps with existing published content. This process is supplemented by editorial review to assess context and appropriate attribution. If overlapping content is identified, the editorial team will assess whether it constitutes a minor issue (such as poorly cited background material) or a major breach. Authors will be contacted to explain and amend where appropriate. Manuscripts with substantial plagiarism, undeclared duplication, or fraudulent content will be rejected outright. Cases may also be reported to authors’ institutions or funders.

Post-Publication Concerns

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, Impact Surgery will take corrective action based on the severity. This may include publishing a correction or retraction, and notifying relevant institutions or research funders. All actions are taken in accordance with COPE’s retraction guidelines.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring their submissions are original and appropriately referenced. Any reuse of previously published material (text, data, figures, or tables) must be clearly cited and, where required, accompanied by permission. Authors must disclose any prior publication of similar content (including preprints or conference proceedings) at the point of submission.

Editorial Oversight

The editorial team evaluates plagiarism cases on a case-by-case basis, considering the extent of duplication, the importance of the material involved, and the intent behind the submission. Editorial decisions prioritise the preservation of the scientific record and the journal’s ethical standards.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Impact Surgery is a member of the global publishing community committed to upholding the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We encourage all authors to familiarise themselves with responsible publication practices. Suspected or confirmed plagiarism is handled transparently, and our policies are applied consistently to protect the trustworthiness of the journal. For further information, please refer to COPE’s Guidelines on Good Publication Practice.