Code of Ethics, Transparency, and Research Ethics Policy

The Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice (CJMRP), published by the Dougmar Publishing Group (the “Publisher”), is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing practice. 

CJMRP adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. 

The CJMRP Editorial Board operates with full editorial independence from CJMRP and from the Publisher. The journal maintains the integrity of the academic record for all published content, including the timely publication of corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, and retractions where necessary. 

The following standards apply to all submissions and published materials. 

1. Authorship and Originality

• Submissions must consist of original material that has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere. 

• All listed authors must have made a substantive intellectual contribution to the research and/or manuscript preparation and must approve the final version for publication. 

• Authors are collectively and individually responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the submission. 

• If authors identify errors after submission or publication, they must notify the Co-Editors in writing within fourteen (14) days of discovery. 

2. Intellectual Property and Proper Attribution

• All submissions must comply with applicable intellectual property and copyright laws. 

• Material reproduced or adapted from other sources, including an author’s own previously published work, must be used only with appropriate permission and clearly cited. 

• Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is not permitted. 

3. Data Integrity

• Data included in or referenced by the submission must be accurate, complete, and not fabricated, falsified, or inappropriately manipulated. 

• Authors must retain research data and be prepared to provide access where requested for verification purposes, consistent with ethical and privacy obligations. 

4. Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

• All financial support, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed at the time of submission. 

• Authors must disclose any relationships that could reasonably be perceived to influence the research or its interpretation. 

5. Legal and Ethical Compliance

Authors and their research must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards, including: 

• Health privacy legislation 

• Ethical research guidelines 

• Institutional and professional regulatory requirements 

Research Ethics Compliance and Informed Consent Policy

CJMRP requires that all manuscripts reporting research involving human participants include documentation of approval from a recognized Research Ethics Board (REB) or equivalent body. 

Research teams must adhere to established ethical standards for medical and health research, including: 

• Protection of participants’ physical and psychological well-being 

• Safeguarding privacy and confidentiality 

• Responsible handling of identifying information 

Written informed consent must be obtained from all study participants whose individual information, case details, or identifiable data are presented. Where participants are unable to provide consent (including minors or deceased individuals), authors must confirm that consent was obtained from legally authorized representatives. 

CJMRP follows the guiding principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects). 

Authors who are uncertain regarding their responsibilities under this policy are encouraged to contact the Co-Editors prior to submission.