Patient Confidentiality & Consent Policy

Informed Consent and Anonymization

At JoWaCH, our commitment to patient confidentiality and informed consent underscores ethical research practices involving human subjects.

Informed Consent Requirement:

Studies involving human subjects necessitate obtaining informed consent for the presentation of personal characteristics, a crucial aspect explicitly stated in the manuscript. The preference is for explicit patient consent over anonymization, as the latter may result in the loss of vital evidence and the essence of the case.

Special Considerations for Children and Patients with Inabilities:

In cases involving children under 18 years or patients lacking the mental or physical capacity to comprehend the publication's intent, consent can be sought from parents or guardians. Sensitivity to the individual's comfort with publication is paramount, and authors must be attuned to the case instincts, ensuring identity concealment.

Case Images and Consent:

Images such as X-rays, ultrasound, pathological slides, or multimedia files may not require consent for publication unless they present identifiable features. Consent becomes mandatory when publishing images containing identifiable details.

Image Anonymization:

We ensure responsible image handling by appropriate cropping, displaying only clinically relevant features. The use of obscured images with hidden or blurred eyes is discouraged, as it may imply misconduct or unauthorized data publication.

Consent Form Requirements:

To prevent identifying information disclosure, authors should provide a signed consent form from the patient, confirming the use of necessary information, aligning with the Consent Form for Publication in JoWaCH.