This Informed Consent Policy applies to all journals published by Himalayan Publisher.

Himalayan Publisher is committed to upholding the highest standards of research ethics, integrity, and participant protection in all forms of scholarly publishing involving human subjects. Research involving human participants must be conducted in accordance with internationally recognized ethical principles and applicable institutional, national, and international guidelines.

Requirement for Informed Consent

All studies involving human participants, including clinical studies, observational research, surveys, interviews, questionnaires, case reports, and other forms of human-related research, must obtain informed consent from participants prior to their inclusion in the study.

Informed consent is considered an essential ethical requirement that ensures voluntary participation and respect for individual autonomy, dignity, privacy, and rights.

Information to be Provided to Participants

Authors and researchers must ensure that participants are adequately informed about the nature and purpose of the study before obtaining consent. The informed consent process should clearly explain:

• The purpose, objectives, and procedures of the research
• The expected duration of participation
• Potential risks, discomforts, or inconveniences associated with participation
• Expected benefits of the study, if any
• Confidentiality and privacy protection measures
• Data collection, storage, and handling procedures
• Voluntary nature of participation
• The participant’s right to refuse or withdraw from the study at any stage without penalty or consequences
• Contact information for researchers or institutional representatives for questions or concerns related to the study

The information provided to participants should be clear, understandable, and free from misleading or coercive language.

Consent Process

Researchers are responsible for conducting the informed consent process in a transparent and ethical manner. Participants should be given sufficient time and opportunity to read the consent information, ask questions, and make an informed decision regarding participation.

Authors must ensure that consent is obtained voluntarily without pressure, coercion, or undue influence.

Written informed consent is preferred for all applicable studies. In certain cases, verbal or electronic consent may be acceptable where permitted by institutional or ethical guidelines.

Special Considerations for Vulnerable Participants

Special ethical considerations must be applied when research involves vulnerable populations, including but not limited to:

• Children and minors
• Elderly individuals
• Individuals with cognitive or intellectual impairments
• Patients with limited decision-making capacity
• Economically or socially vulnerable groups

For minors or participants unable to provide legal consent, informed consent must be obtained from parents, legal guardians, or legally authorized representatives. Where appropriate, assent from minors or participants should also be obtained.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Authors must protect the privacy, dignity, and confidentiality of all research participants. Personal information, photographs, medical records, or identifiable data must not be published without explicit written consent from the participant or authorized representative.

All data should be handled securely and used solely for research and publication purposes in accordance with ethical and legal requirements.

Documentation and Ethical Approval

Authors are responsible for maintaining appropriate documentation related to informed consent and ethical approval. The editorial office may request copies of consent forms, ethical approval letters, or supporting documentation during the peer-review or editorial evaluation process.

Research involving human participants should also comply with the ethical standards of the relevant institutional review boards (IRBs), ethics committees, or regulatory authorities.

Policy Compliance

Failure to obtain appropriate informed consent or comply with ethical standards may result in manuscript rejection, withdrawal of published articles, or other corrective actions in accordance with the publisher’s ethical policies.

Himalayan Publisher remains committed to promoting ethical research practices, safeguarding participant rights, and maintaining integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing across all its journals.