Plagiarism Policy

Optimal Journal of Clinical Case Report is committed to maintaining academic integrity and preventing plagiarism in all manuscripts submitted for publication. All authors are required to ensure that their manuscripts are original and that all sources used are properly acknowledged and cited.

Plagiarism Includes, but Is Not Limited to:

Copying or quoting words, phrases, sentences, data, images, tables, or other information from a source without appropriate citation or acknowledgment.
Paraphrasing material from another source without properly acknowledging the original source.
Using ideas, concepts, opinions, interpretations, theories, or arguments developed by others without appropriate attribution.
Reproducing substantial parts of previously published material without proper citation and, where required, permission from the copyright holder.
Presenting another person's work, either in whole or in part, as one's own work.
Submitting a manuscript that substantially duplicates the author's own previously published work without appropriate disclosure and citation (self-plagiarism or redundant publication).
Using figures, photographs, clinical images, tables, or other copyrighted materials without appropriate acknowledgment or permission when required.
Engaging in mosaic plagiarism, in which words, phrases, or ideas from multiple sources are combined without appropriate attribution.

Prevention

All manuscripts submitted to Optimal Journal of Clinical Case Report will undergo plagiarism and similarity screening before proceeding to the publication process.

The journal uses Turnitin or other appropriate similarity-detection software to identify potential textual overlap with previously published or publicly available materials.

The journal generally applies a maximum similarity index of 20%. However, the similarity percentage is not the sole basis for determining plagiarism. The Editorial Team will also evaluate the nature, source, distribution, and context of the detected similarities.

Manuscripts containing inappropriate textual overlap, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other forms of publication misconduct may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected before peer review.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all quotations, paraphrases, data, figures, tables, and other materials obtained from external sources are properly cited and acknowledged.

Sanctions

If plagiarism or other forms of publication misconduct are identified, Optimal Journal of Clinical Case Report may take one or more of the following actions, depending on the severity of the violation:

Issue a formal reprimand or notification to the author(s).
Issue a written warning to the author(s).
Reject the manuscript during the submission or review process.
Cancel the publication of an accepted manuscript before publication.
Retract or withdraw an article if plagiarism is identified after publication.
Publish a retraction or correction notice when appropriate.
Notify the author's institution or other relevant parties in cases of serious publication misconduct, when necessary.