Journal Medical Libanais (JML) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and objectivity in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest. All participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members—are expected to disclose any relationships or activities that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the interpretation, review, or publication of scholarly work.

Definition of a Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when financial, personal, academic, institutional, political, or professional relationships have the potential to compromise, or appear to compromise, an individual's objectivity, impartiality, or professional judgment.

The existence of a conflict of interest does not necessarily prevent publication or participation in the editorial process; however, complete disclosure is essential to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are required to disclose all actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may be related to the submitted work. These disclosures should include, but are not limited to:

• Financial support, grants, or research funding.
• Employment or consultancy relationships.
• Honoraria, speaker fees, or advisory board memberships.
• Stock ownership, equity interests, or patents.
• Personal, family, institutional, or professional relationships that could influence the research.
• Any commercial or non-commercial affiliations relevant to the manuscript.

All sources of financial support must be clearly identified in the manuscript, including the role of the funding organization in the study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation, or publication decisions.

If no conflicts of interest exist, authors should include the following statement:

"The authors declare that they have no known competing financial or non-financial interests that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this manuscript."

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in rejection of the manuscript, publication of a correction, or retraction of the article if the omission is discovered after publication.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest that could affect their ability to provide an objective and impartial review. Conflicts may arise from:

• Personal or professional relationships with the authors.
• Collaborative research or institutional affiliations.
• Financial interests related to the subject of the manuscript.
• Direct academic competition or personal disagreements.

Reviewers with significant conflicts of interest should decline the invitation to review the manuscript. Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality and must not use unpublished information for personal, academic, or commercial advantage.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors and Editorial Board members are required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest before handling a manuscript. Editors must recuse themselves from the editorial process whenever a conflict exists, including circumstances involving:

• Current or recent collaboration with the authors.
• Employment at the same institution.
• Financial or commercial relationships.
• Personal relationships or academic competition.
• Any circumstance that could compromise editorial impartiality.

In such cases, responsibility for the manuscript will be assigned to another qualified editor with no competing interests.

Management of Conflicts of Interest

The Editorial Office evaluates all disclosed conflicts of interest during the editorial process. When necessary, additional information or clarification may be requested from authors, reviewers, or editors. Appropriate measures may include reassignment of reviewers or editors, additional independent review, publication of disclosure statements, or other actions necessary to preserve the integrity and transparency of the publication process.

Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified before or after publication, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with COPE guidance. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue, the journal may:

• Request additional disclosure or clarification.
• Suspend or terminate the editorial review process.
• Reject the manuscript.
• Publish a correction or updated conflict of interest statement.
• Issue an Expression of Concern.
• Retract the published article where appropriate.
• Notify the authors' institution or funding organization if serious misconduct is identified.

Transparency and Ethical Compliance

Journal Medical Libanais promotes complete transparency throughout the publication process. All disclosed conflicts of interest and funding information will be considered during editorial decision-making and, where appropriate, published alongside the article to enable readers to assess the research objectively.

The journal is committed to preserving public trust in scientific research by implementing fair, transparent, and consistent conflict of interest practices in accordance with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and internationally recognized standards of responsible scholarly publishing.