01

What to disclose

Reviewers must disclose any relationship or interest that could influence, or be seen to influence, their opinion of a manuscript. Examples:

—  a current or recent collaboration, publication, or grant with an author;

—  working at the same institution, or a supervisory or mentoring relationship;

—  a close personal relationship, or a personal dispute;

—  a financial or professional interest in the outcome;

—  intellectual rivalry, or a competing manuscript or project;

—  political, religious, or other commitments that bear on the subject.

02

What the reviewer does

—  Decline the invitation if you cannot give an impartial opinion.

—  If you notice a conflict after you have started, stop and tell the editor, who decides what happens next.

—  If you are unsure whether something is a conflict, ask the editor.

03

What the editor does

—  Decides whether the interest can be managed or whether another reviewer is needed.

—  Records the decision.

—  May ask for a new review if a conflict is found after the decision and could have affected it.

04

Related

Conflict of Interest  ·  Reviewer Selection  ·  Reviewer Guidelines

05

Sources

This policy is based on the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE):