JSLS Editorial Policy, Guidelines and Ethical Procedure

JSLS EDITORIAL POLICY

Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (JSLS) publishes original articles on basic science and technical topics in all the fields involved with laparoendoscopic surgery. The journal seeks to advance our understanding and practice of minimally invasive, image-guided surgery by providing a forum for all relevant disciplines and by promoting the exchange of information and ideas across specialties. JSLS is an online only, open access peer-reviewed journal indexed in PubMedCentral (PMC) that employs a rapid review process for all submitted manuscripts so that significant scientific findings appear with minimal delay. All case reports submitted to JSLS will be published in CRSLS, MIS Case Reports from SLS, an open access, online only, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing case reports. The case reports will have a unique DOI registered by CrossRef and citable at CrossRef.

JSLS uses CrossCheck powered by iThenticate Plagiarism Detection Software, a plagiarism screening service provided by CrossRef.org (http://www.crossref.org/crosscheck.html) that verifies the originality of all articles submitted before publication. iThenticate checks all manuscripts at the time of submission against millions of published research articles and billions of web content (www.ithenticate.com).

The publication goals of JSLS are to:

  1. Maintain the highest degree of confidentiality in managing manuscripts;
  2. Pursue timely publication of manuscripts with the resources available;
  3. Provide strict, unbiased peer review; affirm that editorial decisions are based on the relevance of a manuscript to the journal, and its originality, quality, and contribution to evidence about important medical and surgical questions.1

A JSLS editor initially reviews all submitted manuscripts. Those considered appropriate for publication are then sent to expert reviewers for peer review. JSLS uses a “blinded” review process. The identities of authors and peer reviewers are kept confidential. All materials accepted for publication are copyedited and returned to the author for approval of significant recommended editorial changes. The editor reserves the right to make minor changes for clarity and accuracy without seeking author approval.

JSLS is an online, scholarly publication. All articles have a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI), which is registered with CrossRef.

Sample JSLS Citation: Afridi SA, Kazaryan AM, Marangos IP, RØsok BI, Fretland AA, Yaqub S, BjØrn E. Laparoscopic surgery for solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. JSLS 2014;18(2):236-242. DOI: 10.4293/108680813×13753907291837

Sample JSLS Citation for articles published after July 14, 2014: Xu AA, Zhu JF, Zhang D. Development of a measurement system for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery: reliability and repeatability of digital image correlation for measurement of surface deformations in SILS port. JSLS 2014;July-Sept 18(3):e2014.00267. DOI: 10.4293/JSLS.2014.00267.

JSLS has joined many other medical journals endorsing the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) Recommendations (previously referred to as the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals), including the statements related to “Protection of Patients’ Rights to Privacy,” established by editors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.1 JSLS also endorses the revised CONSORT statement,2 Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors,3 the Ethics Resource Center,4 the AMA Guidelines for web sites,5 and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals.6

Papers are invited in the following categories:

  • Research Article
  • Case reports (to be published in CRSLS)
  • Case Series*
  • Review Article
  • Letter to the editor
  • Reply to the Letter to the Editor
  • Erratum
  • Methodologies Article

The journal, at the discretion of the editor, will also publish:

  • Editorials
  • Commentaries
  • Articles concerning emerging technology
  • Information (news) and events

*Case Series are scientific reports with 3 or more cases examined. A Case Report is a report consisting of one or two cases that will be considered for publication in CRSLS.

PUBLICATION FEE
In order to defray the cost of managing and publishing JSLS, there is a fee of $500 US for each article accepted for publication in the journal. The fee is non-refundable. The publication fee is collected once the manuscript has undergone peer-review and has been accepted for publication. Publication in JSLS includes immediate open access for all published articles and unlimited pages and color figures. There is no charge for Letters to the Editor