Editorial Independence Policy

The editorial decisions of JPDMHD are made solely on the basis of academic merit and relevance to the journal's scope. No editorial decision is influenced by commercial, financial, or other non-scientific considerations.

• The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over all editorial decisions. The publisher (HM Publishers) does not interfere with editorial decision-making.
• Advertising, reprint revenue, or APC (article processing charge) income does not influence editorial decisions.
• The editor may seek advice from the editorial board or external experts but retains final decision-making authority.
• If the publisher and the editor have an unresolvable dispute about editorial policy, either party may refer the matter to COPE for mediation.