Qanun Medika - Medical Journal Faculty of Medicine Muhammadiyah Surabaya is committed to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring originality in all manuscripts submitted for publication. The journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and relevant COPE guidance for identifying and handling suspected plagiarism and other forms of publication misconduct.

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, images, research findings, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment, presenting them as one's own work. Authors must properly cite all sources, clearly identify direct quotations, and acknowledge the origin of reused material. The journal applies the procedures outlined in the COPE Flowchart on Suspected Plagiarism in a Submitted Manuscript when assessing potential cases.

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are subject to similarity screening using plagiarism-detection software, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, to identify potential textual overlap with previously published works and other sources. The journal sets a maximum similarity index of 20% for submitted manuscripts.

Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected, depending on the extent, nature, and context of the overlap. Authors are expected to revise inadequately attributed material, provide appropriate citations, and ensure that the manuscript meets the journal's originality requirements.

The similarity index is an initial screening indicator and does not, by itself, establish whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors examine the similarity report to distinguish legitimate matches, such as references, standard terminology, and properly cited quotations, from potentially inappropriate copying. This assessment follows the case-by-case approach described in the COPE Flowchart on Suspected Plagiarism in a Submitted Manuscript.

Meeting the 20% similarity threshold does not automatically guarantee acceptance or confirm that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. Conversely, a similarity score above 20% does not automatically prove misconduct; the editorial team will examine the report and the context of the overlap before deciding on appropriate action, in accordance with the COPE Text Recycling Guidelines.

Text recycling occurs when authors reuse text from their own previously published work without adequate transparency or acknowledgment. The journal assesses such cases by considering the amount and location of reused text, whether the original work is cited, the type of article, and whether the overlap involves previously published data or raises copyright concerns. These considerations are described in the COPE Text Recycling Guidelines.

Authors must disclose relevant overlap with their previous publications and must not submit manuscripts that duplicate substantial parts of work already published or under consideration elsewhere without appropriate disclosure. The journal follows the COPE position on Handling Concurrent and Duplicate Submissions when assessing suspected duplicate or redundant submissions.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts represent original work, that all sources are properly cited, and that any third-party material is used with appropriate acknowledgment and permission where required. Authors must also disclose related publications and substantial overlap with other manuscripts. These responsibilities are consistent with the COPE Core Practices on Intellectual Property and Allegations of Misconduct.

If potential plagiarism is identified before publication, the editor will assess the similarity report and available evidence and may contact the corresponding author for an explanation. Depending on the findings, the journal may request clarification, correction, proper attribution, or manuscript revision, or reject the submission in serious cases. The procedure will follow the COPE Flowchart on Suspected Plagiarism in a Submitted Manuscript.

If suspected plagiarism is identified after publication, the editor will investigate the concern, assess the evidence, and seek explanations from the authors where appropriate. Depending on the seriousness and nature of the case, the journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, or retract the article. Such actions will be guided by the COPE Flowchart on Suspected Plagiarism in a Published Article and relevant COPE Core Practices.

Where serious concerns remain unresolved, the editor may contact the authors' affiliated institution or another appropriate authority, as recommended in the COPE Flowchart on Suspected Plagiarism in a Submitted Manuscript.

Editorial action will depend on the seriousness, extent, and context of the suspected plagiarism. Possible actions include requesting revisions, rejecting the manuscript, publishing a correction, issuing an expression of concern, retracting a published article, or referring the matter to the relevant institution. The journal will assess the available evidence fairly and follow the relevant COPE plagiarism guidance for submitted manuscripts and published articles.

Qanun Medika - Medical Journal Faculty of Medicine Muhammadiyah Surabaya expects authors to uphold honesty, transparency, and accountability throughout the publication process. All suspected cases of plagiarism, text recycling, and duplicate publication will be assessed in accordance with the journal's policy and relevant COPE Core Practices.