Is confidentiality required in the manuscript submission process?

Maintaining confidentiality during the manuscript submission process is essential for fostering trust and integrity in scientific publishing. When authors submit their work to a journal, they are sharing original research, data, and findings that may not yet be publicly available. Upholding confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals or groups, protecting the intellectual property of the authors.

Furthermore, confidentiality helps to prevent potential biases and conflicts of interest that could arise during the review process. Reviewers must be able to evaluate the work objectively, without the influence of external factors such as the authors' identities or affiliations. By ensuring that the review process remains confidential, journals uphold the integrity of scientific discourse and promote a fair evaluation of the submitted manuscripts.

The notion of confidentiality is a cornerstone principle in the ethical guidelines of medical publication, aligning with policies set forth by various stakeholders in the research community, including institutions, funding bodies, and the authors themselves. This principle applies universally, regardless of the authors' standing in the field or the specific policies of individual journals, emphasizing the importance of protecting all submissions to maintain a fair and trustworthy review process.