Journal Medical Libanais (JML) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. The journal has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct. To ensure the originality and credibility of published research, all submitted manuscripts are screened for textual similarity before entering the peer review process.

Plagiarism Screening

Every manuscript submitted to Journal Medical Libanais is screened using Turnitin or an equivalent internationally recognized plagiarism detection software. The plagiarism screening process is conducted as part of the journal's initial editorial assessment to identify potential plagiarism, duplicate publication, self-plagiarism, inappropriate citation practices, and excessive textual similarity.

Submission Requirement

Authors are required to submit a Plagiarism Report generated using Turnitin or an equivalent similarity detection software at the time of manuscript submission. The report should reflect the final version of the manuscript that is being submitted to the journal.

Manuscripts submitted without a plagiarism report may be considered incomplete and may not proceed to editorial evaluation until the required documentation has been provided.

Acceptable Similarity

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the similarity index complies with the journal's plagiarism policy before submission. Editorial assessment considers not only the overall similarity percentage but also the nature and source of the matched text. Appropriate quotations, references, standard methodological descriptions, and legally permissible similarities are evaluated carefully during the review process.

A high similarity index does not automatically indicate plagiarism, while a low similarity score does not necessarily guarantee originality. Editorial decisions are based on a comprehensive assessment of the similarity report and the manuscript's overall content.

Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office carefully reviews every similarity report to determine whether the identified matches represent acceptable scholarly practice or potential publication misconduct. Where necessary, authors may be asked to revise the manuscript to eliminate inappropriate textual overlap before peer review.

Manuscripts suspected of containing plagiarism, duplicate publication, excessive self-plagiarism, fabricated citations, or other forms of unethical publication practices may be rejected without external peer review.

Post-Publication Screening

If evidence of plagiarism or other publication misconduct is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the matter in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Depending on the outcome of the investigation, appropriate actions may include requesting corrections, publishing an Expression of Concern, retracting the article, or notifying the authors' affiliated institutions where appropriate.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

• Submit only original and unpublished work.
• Properly acknowledge and cite the work of others.
• Obtain permission where required for copyrighted material.
• Submit a Turnitin plagiarism report or an equivalent similarity report with every manuscript submission.
• Ensure that all sources are accurately referenced and that the manuscript complies with the journal's plagiarism standards.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Journal Medical Libanais is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record by implementing a rigorous plagiarism screening process. The journal follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) to ensure that all published research is original, ethically conducted, and scientifically credible.