JMPCC follows the ICMJE criteria. Each author must meet all four:

1.    Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data;

2.    Drafting the work or critically revising it for important intellectual content;

3.    Final approval of the version to be published; and

4.    Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Clinicians who only cared for the patient, provided data, performed procedures or supervised departments — without meeting all four criteria — should be acknowledged rather than listed as authors. For case reports, being part of the treating team is not in itself sufficient for authorship.

Contributor roles and ORCID

A CRediT author contribution statement is required. An ORCID iD is mandatory for the corresponding author and recommended for all.

Multicentre studies and group authorship

For multicentre trials and collaborative groups, individuals who meet authorship criteria are named as authors; other investigators are listed as group members in an appendix and indexed as collaborators.

Not acceptable

•     Gift, guest or honorary authorship (e.g., heads of department who did not contribute).

•     Ghost authorship, including undisclosed medical writers or industry writers.

•     Buying or selling authorship.

•     Listing AI tools as authors.

Changes in authorship

Changes after submission require a written reason and signed agreement of all authors, including any removed. Changes after acceptance are exceptional. Disputes are referred to the authors’ institutions under COPE guidance.