1. Purpose

This guideline aims to:

• Ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout the publication process of the Journal.

• Provide direction for authors, reviewers, and editors on the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in accordance with international publishing ethics standards.

2. Scope of Application

Applies to all authors, reviewers, and editors participating in the publication process of the Journal of Clinical Medicine – Hue Central Hospital.

3. Specific Provisions

3.1. Permitted Scope of AI Use

• The use of AI tools is allowed for tasks such as language editing, spelling correction, and formatting.

• The use of AI is not permitted for generating primary academic content such as results, discussion, conclusion, or scientific analysis.

3.2. Disclosure Obligation

• If AI tools are used, authors must clearly disclose this in the manuscript (in the Acknowledgments or a separate AI Usage Disclosure section), specifying the name of the AI tool, its purpose, and extent of use.

3.3. Author Responsibility and Authorship Rights

• AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

• Authors bear full responsibility for the entire content of the manuscript, including sections supported by AI.

• Authors must verify AI-generated content to prevent misinformation or inaccurate citations.

3.4. Images and Figures

• Images or figures generated or edited using AI are not accepted unless clearly described as part of the research methodology.

3.5. AI Detection and Screening

• The Journal uses AI detection tools (such as Turnitin, iThenticate, GPTZero, Copyleaks) to screen submissions.

• If undeclared or excessive AI use is detected, the manuscript may:

  • Be returned for clarification or rewriting;

  • Be rejected if the explanation is not satisfactory;

  • Be retracted if already published.

• If fabricated data or false citations generated by AI are identified, the manuscript will be immediately rejected, and the author may be restricted from future submissions.

3.6. Editors and Reviewers

• Editors and reviewers may use AI tools for plagiarism detection, language assistance, or initial screening.

• Final academic decisions must always be made by qualified human professionals.

3.7. Ethics and Data Privacy

• Users of AI must comply with data protection and research ethics regulations when handling medical or personal data.

The Journal reserves the right to revise and update this policy as needed to reflect international standards and practical considerations.