The Global Journal of Dental Specialty (GJDS) is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, and rights of research participants. The journal follows the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and internationally accepted ethical standards. Research involving human participants must be conducted with informed consent, and all personal information obtained during research, including information arising from the doctor–patient relationship, must be handled with the highest level of confidentiality and professional responsibility.

1. Requirement for Informed Consent

Authors must ensure that:

• Written informed consent is obtained from all participants before their inclusion in the study.

• Participants are adequately informed about the purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and expected outcomes of the research.

• Participation is voluntary, and individuals have the right to withdraw at any stage without penalty.

• Documentation of informed consent is retained by the authors and made available upon reasonable request.

2. Consent for Publication

Authors must obtain explicit written consent before publishing:

• Patient photographs or clinical images.

• Case reports containing identifiable information.

• Audio or video recordings.

• Personal or demographic information that could reasonably identify an individual.

• Any other material requiring publication consent under applicable ethical standards.

Authors are responsible for confirming that publication consent has been obtained before manuscript submission.

3. Privacy and Confidentiality

The journal requires that all personal information be handled with the highest level of confidence and discretion.

Authors must:

• Protect the confidentiality of information obtained through clinical care or the doctor–patient relationship.

• Remove names, initials, identification numbers, and other direct identifiers unless publication consent has been obtained.

• Use anonymized or de-identified data whenever possible.

• Ensure that confidential information is not disclosed unnecessarily during the research or publication process.

• Comply with applicable institutional, national, and international data protection regulations.

4. Research Involving Vulnerable Populations

For studies involving children or individuals who cannot legally provide informed consent:

• Consent must be obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or legally authorized representative.

• Additional safeguards must be implemented to protect the rights and welfare of participants.

• Research must comply with applicable ethical and legal requirements.

5. Editorial Verification

During editorial assessment, the journal may request:

• Confirmation that informed consent was obtained.

• Copies of consent documentation where appropriate.

• Clarification regarding participant confidentiality measures.

• Additional information concerning ethical safeguards implemented during the study.

Failure to provide satisfactory evidence may delay editorial processing or result in rejection of the manuscript.

6. Non-Compliance

The journal reserves the right to reject, suspend, or retract manuscripts if:

• Required informed consent has not been obtained.

• Participant privacy or confidentiality has been compromised.

• Identifiable information has been published without appropriate authorization.

• Ethical requirements relating to informed consent have not been fulfilled.

• Authors fail to provide requested documentation supporting informed consent.

7. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

• Obtaining and documenting informed consent before conducting research.

• Protecting the confidentiality and privacy of all participants.

• Ensuring that published information cannot identify participants without explicit written permission.

• Maintaining consent records in accordance with institutional and legal requirements.

• Promptly informing the journal if concerns regarding participant consent arise after submission or publication.

8. Compliance with International Standards

The journal expects all submitted manuscripts involving human participants to comply with:

• ICMJE Recommendations for research involving human participants.

• COPE Core Practices and ethical guidance.

• The Declaration of Helsinki.

• Applicable institutional, national, and international ethical and privacy regulations.

• International best practices for protecting participant confidentiality and informed consent.

Compliance with these standards helps ensure respect for participant autonomy, protection of personal information, and the ethical conduct of biomedical and clinical research.