Anti-plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism and Publication Ethics Policy

Hospital Surgery. Journal Named After L. Ya. Kovalchuk is committed to upholding the principles of academic integrity, protecting authors' rights, and preventing plagiarism and other forms of publication misconduct.

Manuscript Screening

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are screened for plagiarism and inappropriate text reuse using specialized plagiarism-detection software. Where necessary, the editorial office may engage independent experts to conduct an additional assessment of identified similarities. The screening process covers potential matches with previously published scientific articles, books, conference proceedings, online resources, and other sources.

Assessment of Text Similarity

The overall text similarity percentage is used as an initial screening indicator and does not, in itself, constitute evidence of plagiarism. The editorial office evaluates the nature, extent, and context of the identified similarities, taking into account properly cited quotations, bibliographic references, standard descriptions of research methods, commonly accepted terminology, and other legitimate forms of text reuse.

The journal proposes the following preliminary screening thresholds:

Up to and including 15% — may be considered acceptable, provided that no evidence of plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse is identified.

Above 15% and up to and including 25% — requires additional editorial assessment and analysis of the sources of similarity.

Above 25% — generally warrants an in-depth review before a decision on publication is made.

These thresholds are indicative criteria for initial screening and do not constitute automatic grounds for accepting or rejecting a manuscript. Regardless of the overall similarity percentage, any indication of unattributed appropriation of another person's text, ideas, or research findings is subject to separate assessment.

Editorial Procedure in Cases of Suspected Plagiarism

If potential plagiarism or inappropriate use of third-party material is identified during screening, the editorial office may:

Examine the similarity report and compare the relevant passages in the manuscript with the original sources.

Request a written explanation from the corresponding author, additional documentation, or a revised version of the manuscript, where the nature of the issue allows for correction.

Consult independent experts, reviewers, or members of the editorial board, where necessary.

Determine whether the identified similarities constitute legitimate citation, deficiencies in attribution, excessive text reuse, plagiarism, or another form of publication misconduct.

Each case is assessed individually, taking into account the nature and extent of the similarities, the presence of appropriate citations, the originality of the research, and the authors' explanations.

Editorial Decisions and Consequences of Misconduct

If the identified issues concern correctable deficiencies in citation or source attribution and do not constitute substantial plagiarism, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for revision.

A manuscript may be rejected if the investigation establishes plagiarism, substantial unattributed text reuse, appropriation of another person's research findings or ideas, fabrication or misrepresentation of data or images, or other serious violations of publication ethics.

If suspected misconduct is identified after publication, the editorial office will investigate the case and, depending on the findings, may publish a correction, an Expression of Concern, or a Retraction, in accordance with recognized publication ethics standards.

Where justified, the editorial office may notify the authors' affiliated institution, the organization that funded the research, or other relevant organizations of established misconduct. Any further action will be taken in accordance with the journal's editorial policy and applicable legislation.

Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for the originality and integrity of their submissions, the accuracy of the information presented, the correct spelling of names and surnames, the accuracy of quotations and bibliographic references, and the proper acknowledgment of all sources used. Authors must ensure that third-party materials are appropriately cited and that any necessary permissions for their use have been obtained where required.

The journal reserves the right to reject a manuscript when plagiarism or another serious violation of publication ethics has been substantiated. Decisions are made on the basis of the available evidence and in accordance with the journal's editorial policy. The journal is committed to protecting authors' rights, maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record, and ensuring that substantiated allegations of plagiarism and the improper use of published materials are addressed fairly and consistently.