The Netherlands Journal of Critical Care (Neth. J. Crit. Care) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in biomedical research and publication. The journal expects all research submitted for publication to be conducted responsibly, with respect for human participants, animals, privacy, dignity, safety, and applicable ethical and legal requirements.

The journal's Research Ethics Policy is informed by the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and relevant principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The current ICMJE Recommendations, updated in January 2026, require appropriate ethical oversight of human research and allow editors to exercise independent judgment regarding the ethical acceptability of research even when formal approval has been obtained.

1. Ethical Conduct of Research

Authors must ensure that research submitted to the journal has been conducted in accordance with recognized ethical principles, applicable laws and regulations, and relevant institutional or national requirements.

Research involving human participants should comply with the Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2024, and should receive appropriate independent ethical review before the research begins where required.

2. Ethics Committee and IRB Approval

Research involving human participants, identifiable human data, biological materials, or other ethically regulated activities should receive approval from an appropriate independent ethics committee, Institutional Review Board (IRB), or equivalent review body.

Authors should provide:

• Name of the approving ethics committee or IRB
• Approval or reference number, where applicable
• Date or relevant details of approval, where required
• A statement describing the ethical approval in the manuscript

The journal may request documentary evidence of ethical approval at any stage of editorial assessment or peer review. ICMJE specifically states that authors should be prepared to provide documentation when requested by editors.

3. Informed Consent

Authors must obtain informed consent from research participants where required by applicable ethical standards or regulations.

For case reports, clinical photographs, identifiable information, or other material that could reasonably identify an individual, appropriate written consent for publication should be obtained where required.

Authors must protect participant privacy and should not publish unnecessary identifying information.

4. Protection of Human Participants

The rights, dignity, privacy, safety, and welfare of research participants must be protected throughout the research process.

Authors should ensure that participation is voluntary and that participants are not exposed to unnecessary risks or harm. Vulnerable populations should receive appropriate additional protections.

5. Animal Research

Research involving animals must comply with applicable institutional, national, and international standards for the ethical care and use of animals.

Authors should provide appropriate information regarding ethical approval and animal welfare procedures, including relevant standards of care, anesthesia, pain management, and euthanasia where applicable.

ICMJE recommends that reports of animal research indicate whether institutional and national standards for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

6. Clinical Trials and Research Registration

Clinical trials should be prospectively registered in an appropriate publicly accessible clinical-trial registry in accordance with applicable ICMJE recommendations and journal requirements.

Where applicable, authors must provide the trial registration number and relevant registration information in the manuscript.

7. Ethical Reporting

Authors must report research methods, participants, results, and ethical considerations accurately and transparently.

Ethical approval must not be misrepresented, fabricated, or obtained retrospectively merely to satisfy publication requirements.

The journal may request additional information regarding study design, participant recruitment, consent procedures, ethical approval, or research conduct where concerns arise.

8. Editorial Assessment of Ethical Conduct

Obtaining approval from an ethics committee or IRB does not automatically guarantee that a manuscript will be considered ethically acceptable for publication.

The editors retain the right to independently assess whether the reported research appears to have been conducted and reported ethically. This is consistent with ICMJE guidance, which states that approval by a responsible review body does not prevent editors from forming their own judgment about the appropriateness of the research conduct.

9. Right to Reject Manuscripts on Ethical Grounds

The Netherlands Journal of Critical Care reserves the right to reject any manuscript, at any stage of the editorial or publication process, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the research was conducted unethically or fails to meet applicable ethical standards.

A manuscript may be rejected or publication may be withheld where there is evidence or credible concern regarding:

• Absence of required ethical approval
• Lack of required informed consent
• Violation of participant privacy or confidentiality
• Unethical treatment of human participants
• Unethical treatment or use of animals
• Fabrication or falsification of ethical approval
• Misrepresentation of research procedures
• Failure to comply with applicable research regulations
• Unethical clinical-trial practices
• Serious research misconduct
• Other conduct that may compromise the integrity or safety of research participants

This right applies even where a manuscript has otherwise demonstrated scientific merit.

10. Investigation of Ethical Concerns

If an ethical concern is identified before or after publication, the editorial team may request explanations, supporting documentation, or clarification from the authors.

Where appropriate, the journal may contact the relevant institution, ethics committee, research organization, funder, or other responsible authority.

The journal may also follow applicable COPE principles when investigating concerns relating to research ethics or publication misconduct.

11. Post-Publication Ethical Concerns

If ethical problems are identified after publication, the journal may take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scientific record.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Publication of a correction
• Expression of concern
• Retraction
• Removal or restriction of content where legally or ethically necessary
• Referral to the relevant institution or authority

12. Ethical Responsibility of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research complies with all applicable ethical requirements before submission.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

• Appropriate ethical approval was obtained where required.
• Required informed consent was obtained.
• Participants' privacy and confidentiality were protected.
• Animal research complied with applicable welfare standards.
• Clinical trials were appropriately registered where required.
• Ethical information provided to the journal is accurate and complete.
• All relevant ethical documentation can be provided upon request.

13. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The Netherlands Journal of Critical Care considers ethical research conduct fundamental to responsible medical publishing. The journal will prioritize the protection of research participants, animal welfare, scientific integrity, transparency, and public trust over publication of any individual manuscript.

The journal may periodically update this Research Ethics Policy to reflect developments in medical research ethics, ICMJE recommendations, COPE guidance, and applicable international or national requirements.