Generative AI Policy

Dharmaputra Medical Law Journal (DMLJ)

Jurnal Dharmaputra Hukum Kesehatan

P-ISSN: 3124-1964 | E-ISSN: 3124-1840

Policy Overview

The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools — including large language models, AI writing assistants, and automated text generators — presents significant implications for scholarly publishing. The Dharmaputra Medical Law Journal (DMLJ) recognizes both the potential and the risks of these tools, and has established this policy to ensure the transparency, integrity, and accountability of all content published in the journal.

This policy is grounded in the COPE Position Statement on Authorship and AI Tools (2023) and applies to all manuscript types accepted by DMLJ, including original research articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, letters to the editor, and editorials.

Fundamental Principle: AI Cannot Be Listed as an Author

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors on any manuscript submitted to DMLJ. This position is absolute and is consistent with the COPE 2023 position statement and the authorship criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Authorship requires the ability to take accountability and responsibility for the work. AI tools cannot:

Give or withhold consent for publication.
Take responsibility for the accuracy of the data or conclusions.
Declare conflicts of interest.
Respond to post-publication queries, corrections, or ethical concerns.
Be held accountable for violations of publication ethics.

Human authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscripts, including any content generated or assisted by AI tools. The use of AI assistance does not diminish author accountability.

Mandatory Disclosure Requirements

Authors who have used generative AI tools during the preparation of their manuscript must disclose this use. Failure to disclose AI use that is subsequently discovered constitutes a breach of publication ethics and may result in rejection, retraction, or referral to the authors' institution.

Where to disclose:

Methods Section

If AI was used in any stage of the research process — such as data analysis, literature searching, or coding — this must be described in the Methods section with sufficient detail for reproducibility.

Acknowledgements Section

If AI was used to assist with writing, editing, translation, or grammar checking, this must be stated in the Acknowledgements section, specifying the tool name, version, and the nature of its use.

Suggested disclosure language (Acknowledgements):

"The authors used [AI Tool Name, version X] to assist with [specific task, e.g., language editing/grammar checking/translation of the abstract]. The authors reviewed and take full responsibility for all content, and the final manuscript was edited and approved by all listed authors."

Acceptable Uses of AI Tools

DMLJ acknowledges that AI tools can serve legitimate and beneficial purposes in the research and writing process. The following uses are considered acceptable, provided they are disclosed as described above:

Language editing and grammar checking: Using AI tools to improve the clarity, fluency, and grammatical accuracy of text written by human authors.
Translation assistance: Using AI tools to assist with translating content between languages, provided the author reviews and verifies the translated content.
Literature search support: Using AI tools to assist with identifying relevant literature, provided the author independently verifies the accuracy of all citations and references.
Data organization and formatting: Using AI to assist with organizing, formatting, or summarizing data, provided the authors verify all outputs for accuracy.
Coding and computational analysis: Using AI-assisted coding tools to assist with data analysis scripts or statistical computation, with the method disclosed in the Methods section.
Creating outlines and structuring drafts: Using AI to help organize ideas into a draft structure, where the intellectual content and analysis are the authors' own work.

Unacceptable Uses of AI Tools

The following uses of AI tools are not permitted and constitute a breach of DMLJ's publication ethics standards:

Generating the primary intellectual content of the manuscript: Using AI to write the Introduction, Discussion, Conclusions, or any substantive section that represents the authors' analysis, interpretation, and scholarly contribution.
Fabricating or hallucinating references: Using AI-generated citations without independently verifying each reference. AI tools are known to generate plausible-sounding but non-existent references, which constitutes a form of research misconduct.
Generating original research data: Using AI to produce, simulate, or fabricate data that is presented as empirical research findings.
Bypassing ethical oversight: Using AI to generate ethical statements, patient consent language, or ethics approval documentation.
Disguising AI use to avoid detection: Deliberately manipulating AI-generated content to evade detection by AI detection tools used by the editorial team.
Undisclosed AI use: Using AI for any purpose without declaring it in the manuscript as described in this policy.

AI Detection and Editorial Screening

The DMLJ editorial team reserves the right to use AI detection tools as part of its manuscript screening process. Manuscripts that show indicators of undisclosed AI-generated content may be subject to further scrutiny, including a request for clarification from the authors before a final editorial decision is made.

Authors should be aware that current AI detection tools have limitations and may produce false positives or false negatives. The results of AI detection screening are therefore used as one indicator among many in the editorial process and will not on their own lead to rejection. However, patterns of AI use combined with a lack of disclosure will be treated as a serious concern.

Where undisclosed AI use is confirmed, the editorial team will act in accordance with COPE guidelines, which may include rejection of the manuscript, contacting the authors' institution, or, in the case of published articles, issuing a correction or retraction.

Specific Guidance by Article Type

Original Research Articles

AI may be used for language editing and, where applicable, for computational assistance with data analysis (must be disclosed in Methods). AI must not generate the research question, design the study, interpret the results, or write the Discussion or Conclusions sections.

Review Articles and Systematic Reviews

AI may assist with literature searching and screening (must be disclosed in Methods). Authors must independently verify all included studies and their data. Synthesis, critical appraisal, and conclusions must represent the authors' own scholarly work. AI-generated summaries of included studies are not acceptable.

Case Reports

AI must not be used to describe patient information, clinical details, or the diagnostic and management narrative. These sections must be written by the clinician-authors who directly managed the case. AI may assist with language editing of the Discussion section only, with disclosure.

Letters to the Editor and Editorials

Letters and editorials are opinion pieces representing the views and expertise of the named author(s). The use of AI to generate the substantive content of a letter or editorial undermines its authenticity as a scholarly opinion. Minor language editing with disclosure is permissible.

Short Communications

The same standards as Original Research Articles apply. Given the brevity of this format, AI use should be especially limited and all use must be fully disclosed.

Consequences of Undisclosed AI Use

DMLJ treats undisclosed or inappropriate use of generative AI as a form of research misconduct. Depending on the nature and extent of the breach, the following actions may be taken:

Pre-publication: Immediate rejection of the manuscript without further review; the authors may be asked to revise and resubmit with appropriate disclosures if the AI use is within acceptable bounds.
Post-publication: Issuance of a correction if AI use was undisclosed but not considered to affect the integrity of the scientific content; retraction if AI use is found to have compromised the reliability of the findings.
Institutional notification: Notification of the authors' institution where the breach is considered serious, in accordance with COPE guidelines.
Exclusion from future submissions: Authors found to have repeatedly violated this policy may be excluded from submitting to DMLJ for a defined period.

Principal Contact: Gede Krisna Udiana, S.K.M., M.H.Kes. | +62 812-3898-787 | udiana.krisna@gmail.com

https://dmedlaw.org