Informed Consent

Informed consent is the process by which a person voluntarily agrees to undergo a healthcare treatment, procedure, or intervention after being provided with sufficient and relevant information. This decision should be made based on a clear understanding of the proposed intervention, including its potential benefits, risks, and alternative options.

Any details that could identify individuals or include images related to participants are strictly prohibited.

Experimental research involving vertebrates or regulated invertebrates must adhere to institutional, national, or international guidelines and receive approval from an appropriate ethics committee. The manuscript should include a statement indicating compliance with relevant guidelines and/or ethical approval, including the name of the ethics committee and reference number, if applicable. The Editor will consider animal welfare issues and reserves the right to reject a manuscript if the research involves protocols that are inconsistent with widely accepted norms of animal research. In some cases, the Editors may contact the ethics committee for additional information.

For field studies and other non-experimental research involving animals, it is necessary to comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines. If available, the study should have received approval from an appropriate ethics committee. The manuscript should include a statement confirming compliance with relevant guidelines and provide appropriate permissions or licenses.

These measures ensure that research involving human participants and animals is conducted ethically and in accordance with established guidelines and regulations.

The following requirements must be fulfilled for informed consent to be considered legitimate:

Voluntary Decision: The choice must be made voluntarily, free from undue influence, manipulation, or compulsion.
Information Provision: The individual must get precise, understandable, and unambiguous information regarding the suggested medical procedure, treatment, or intervention.

  - The proposed healthcare treatment, procedure, or intervention.
  - The potential benefits of the intervention.
  - The material risks associated with the intervention.
  - Alternative treatments or procedures, including the option of not undergoing the proposed intervention.
 Understanding: In order to make an informed choice based on their values and interests, the person must have a thorough understanding of the information supplied.
 Competence: The individual must possess the mental ability to decide.  A legally appointed representative may give informed consent on behalf of the person if they are too old or mentally incapacitated to do so.