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Volume 4, Issue 1 (1-2025)
JRHMS 2025, 4(1): 74-75 |
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Yazdansetad Z. A call to standardize AI disclosure policies: Applauding the initiative of Journal of Research in Health and Medical Sciences. JRHMS 2025; 4 (1) :74-75
URL: http://jrhms.thums.ac.ir/article-1-129-en.html
URL: http://jrhms.thums.ac.ir/article-1-129-en.html
Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract: (6 Views)
Dear Editor,
The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic writing has raised significant ethical concerns in scientific publishing. As AI-assisted manuscript preparation becomes increasingly common, transparency regarding its use is essential to maintain the credibility, and accountability of scholarly work. Leading international bodies such as the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (1) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (2) have issued clear guidance: AI tools cannot be listed as authors, and their use must be disclosed. The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) further emphasizes that disclosures should be made both in the cover letter and in the manuscript text (3). Additionally, publishers such as Wiley provide practical guidelines for responsible AI use in research (4).
Despite these international efforts, the policies of Iranian medical journals regarding AI remain inconsistent. A review was conducted of author guidelines from seven leading Iranian medical journals—including those of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad universities of medical sciences—along with the Journal of Research in Health and Medical Sciences (JRHMS) to provide a representative overview of AI disclosure practices in prominent national journals. Among these, most journals lacked clear or unified criteria for reporting AI use. Only the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences has established an explicit AI policy comparable to international recommendations (5).
It is particularly commendable that JRHMS introduced a formal and transparent AI disclosure policy (6). Authors are required to report the use of AI tools—ranging from large language models to data analysis software—in both the cover letter and the relevant section of the manuscript, such as Methods or Acknowledgments. The prohibition of AI as a listed author and the emphasis on the full responsibility of human authors for content accuracy closely follow emerging international standards (1, 4).
By implementing such policies, JRHMS positions itself as a pioneer among Iranian medical journals. While other journals show gaps in editorial guidance, JRHMS provides a model for transparency and ethical accountability. National standardization of these policies would help authors report AI use responsibly and support editors and reviewers in maintaining ethical standards (3, 4). By leading a national dialogue on AI disclosure, JRHMS can enhance transparency and trust in Iranian research, consistent with international standards.
The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic writing has raised significant ethical concerns in scientific publishing. As AI-assisted manuscript preparation becomes increasingly common, transparency regarding its use is essential to maintain the credibility, and accountability of scholarly work. Leading international bodies such as the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (1) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (2) have issued clear guidance: AI tools cannot be listed as authors, and their use must be disclosed. The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) further emphasizes that disclosures should be made both in the cover letter and in the manuscript text (3). Additionally, publishers such as Wiley provide practical guidelines for responsible AI use in research (4).
Despite these international efforts, the policies of Iranian medical journals regarding AI remain inconsistent. A review was conducted of author guidelines from seven leading Iranian medical journals—including those of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad universities of medical sciences—along with the Journal of Research in Health and Medical Sciences (JRHMS) to provide a representative overview of AI disclosure practices in prominent national journals. Among these, most journals lacked clear or unified criteria for reporting AI use. Only the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences has established an explicit AI policy comparable to international recommendations (5).
It is particularly commendable that JRHMS introduced a formal and transparent AI disclosure policy (6). Authors are required to report the use of AI tools—ranging from large language models to data analysis software—in both the cover letter and the relevant section of the manuscript, such as Methods or Acknowledgments. The prohibition of AI as a listed author and the emphasis on the full responsibility of human authors for content accuracy closely follow emerging international standards (1, 4).
By implementing such policies, JRHMS positions itself as a pioneer among Iranian medical journals. While other journals show gaps in editorial guidance, JRHMS provides a model for transparency and ethical accountability. National standardization of these policies would help authors report AI use responsibly and support editors and reviewers in maintaining ethical standards (3, 4). By leading a national dialogue on AI disclosure, JRHMS can enhance transparency and trust in Iranian research, consistent with international standards.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, AI disclosure, Publication ethics, Editorial policies, Medical journals
Type of Study: Letter to Editor |
Subject:
General
Received: 2026/02/25 | Accepted: 2026/04/21 | Published: 2026/05/23
Received: 2026/02/25 | Accepted: 2026/04/21 | Published: 2026/05/23
References
1. ICMJE. [Available from: https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/.
2. COPE. [Available from: https://publicationethics.org/guidance/cope-position/authorship-and-ai-tools.
3. Zielinski C, Winker MA, Aggarwal R, Ferris LE, Heinemann M, Lapeña JF, Jr., et al. Chatbots, generative AI, and scholarly manuscripts: WAME recommendations on chatbots and generative artificial intelligence in relation to scholarly publications. Colomb Med (Cali). 2023;54(3):e1015868. [DOI:10.25100/cm.v54i3.5868]
5. Wiley. [Available from: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/publish/ai-insights/using-ai-in-research-guidelines-disclosure-tips/.
6. Yoo JH. Defining the Boundaries of AI Use in Scientific Writing: A Comparative Review of Editorial Policies. J Korean Med Sci. 2025;40(23):e187. [DOI:10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e187]
8. JRHMS. [Available from: https://jrhms.thums.ac.ir/page/21/Submission-Instruction.
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