Ethics & Confidentiality

1. CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS

• Manuscript Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts and associated materials as confidential documents. They should not share, discuss, or disclose any part of the manuscript with others without explicit permission from the journal's editorial office.
• Anonymity: PAMJ employs a double-blind review process. Reviewers must not attempt to discover the identity of the authors and should ensure their own anonymity is preserved throughout the review process.
• Use of Information: Information obtained during the review process must not be used for personal advantage or to disadvantage others. This includes refraining from using any data, ideas, or findings from the manuscript before its publication.

2. ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Objectivity and Fairness: Reviews should be conducted objectively, without personal bias. Constructive criticism should be provided, and personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate.
• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could bias their review. This includes personal, financial, intellectual, professional, political, or religious conflicts. If a conflict exists, reviewers should recuse themselves from the review process.
• Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe. If an extension is needed, they must promptly inform the editorial office.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any similarity or overlap with other published work should be reported to the editor.

3. PROHIBITED PRACTICES

• Unauthorized Collaboration: Reviewers must not involve others in the review process without prior approval from the editorial office.
• Plagiarism and Misconduct: If a reviewer suspects plagiarism, data fabrication, or other ethical concerns, they should report these to the editor confidentially.
• Use of AI Tools: Reviewers should not use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to generate review content, as this may compromise confidentiality and the integrity of the review process.

4. POST-REVIEW CONDUCT

• Continued Confidentiality: Even after the review process concludes, reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and the review process.
• No Contact with Authors: Reviewers should not contact authors directly regarding the manuscript. All communications should be through the journal's editorial office.

5. REPORTING CONCERNS

If a reviewer becomes aware of any ethical issues or breaches of confidentiality, they should immediately inform the editorial office. PAMJ is committed to addressing such concerns promptly and maintaining the integrity of the publication process.