Conflict of Interest

Policies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed Consent

The TMP Universal Journal of Law, Business, and Management (UJLBM) is committed to upholding ethical standards in research and publication. The following policies outline the requirements for handling potential conflicts of interest, ensuring compliance with human and animal rights, and obtaining informed consent.

  1. Conflict of Interest Policy

Definition

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s financial, professional, or personal relationships may affect or appear to affect their judgment, objectivity, or actions in the research or publication process.

Author Responsibilities

  • Disclosure: Authors must disclose all financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.
  • Acknowledgment: Disclosed conflicts must be stated in the manuscript under the “Conflict of Interest” section.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where they have potential conflicts of interest, including personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors.

Editor Responsibilities

  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist and delegate the responsibility to another qualified editor.

Resolution

UJLBM evaluates all disclosed conflicts and determines appropriate actions, including reassignment or public disclosure, to maintain the integrity of the research process.

  1. Human and Animal Rights Policy

Human Research

  • Ethical Approval: Authors must confirm that research involving human participants has been conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by an appropriate ethics committee.
  • Protection of Participants: Measures must be taken to protect participants' privacy and confidentiality.

Animal Research

  • Ethical Standards: Research involving animals must comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines, such as the ARRIVE Guidelines or the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
  • Justification: Authors must justify the use of animals in research and demonstrate efforts to minimize harm and distress.

Statement in Manuscripts

  • All submissions must include a statement confirming ethical approval and compliance with applicable guidelines for studies involving human or animal subjects.
  1. Informed Consent Policy

Human Participants

  • Requirement: Authors must obtain informed consent from participants for their involvement in the study, including the use of identifiable data, images, or information.
  • Documentation: A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained must be included in the manuscript.

Vulnerable Populations

  • Special care must be taken to ensure informed consent is obtained from vulnerable populations, such as children or individuals with cognitive impairments, through legal guardians or representatives.

Publication of Identifiable Information

  • For studies involving patient data, authors must ensure that individuals cannot be identified unless explicit consent for publication has been obtained.

Non-Compliance

UJLBM reserves the right to reject or retract manuscripts that fail to comply with these policies. Any concerns about ethical breaches are referred to the relevant institutional ethics committees and handled in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Contact Information

For questions or clarifications regarding these policies, please contact:

  • Email: editorujlbm@gmail.com
  • Phone: +91-9303939928, +91-7000912835

By adhering to these ethical policies, UJLBM ensures the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the research it publishes.