Aims, Scope and Publication Ethics

Aerzteverlag medinfo AG

1. Aims and Scope

Swiss quality journal by physicians for physicians
«der informierte arzt» is a monthly Swiss medical journal that provides high-quality continuing medical education in German for general practitioners and internists in both outpatient and hospital settings. All content is authored by experienced physicians and medical experts, ensuring clinical relevance and practical applicability.

Each year, the editorial board – composed of general practitioners and specialists – defines a catalogue of topics that address current medical challenges in internal medicine and primary care. Manuscripts are reviewed internally by board members, and on request, a double-blind external peer review is conducted. Peer-reviewed articles receive a DOI number. All articles are published with abstracts in both German and English. Articles may also be submitted for CORE CME credit accreditation by the SGAIM.

The journal is printed in Switzerland and adheres strictly to international ethical and professional publishing standards, as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

«der informierte arzt» is certified with the Q-Publikation seal by the Swiss Media Association and is listed in the LEADING MediaBase Switzerland.

2. Peer Review Policy

All submissions are reviewed by the editorial board and, where applicable, undergo double-blind peer review by independent scientific experts who are not affiliated with the board. Reviewers are selected based on subject-matter expertise and are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

See: COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers

The final editorial decision rests with the board. Peer-reviewed articles are labelled accordingly and assigned a DOI.

3. Authorship Criteria

We follow the ICMJE criteria for authorship. All authors must meet the following:

  • Substantial contributions to study conception, design, data acquisition or interpretation

  • Drafting or critical revision of the article

  • Final approval of the version to be published

  • Accountability for the integrity of the entire work

Authors must submit a signed authorship and contribution declaration.

4. Handling of Misconduct

All forms of scientific misconduct—including plagiarism, data falsification, and inappropriate authorship—are taken seriously. Allegations are reviewed by the editorial board and the publisher according to COPE Flowcharts. Confirmed cases lead to corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

5. Complaints and Appeals

Authors and readers may raise editorial or ethical concerns through the contact provided below. Complaints about editorial decisions or board members are handled transparently and may be escalated to the publisher.

See: COPE Guidelines for Handling Complaints

6. Corrections and Retractions

Errors or post-publication concerns will be addressed through formal corrections, updates or retractions, in line with COPE guidance. All changes are clearly marked and linked to the original article.

See: COPE Retraction Guidelines

7. Conflicts of Interest

All authors are required to declare potential financial or non-financial conflicts of interest using a standardized form. The editorial board reviews disclosures for completeness and may verify them if needed. Our policy aligns with:

8. Data Protection and Research Ethics

For case reports or clinical content involving patients, written informed consent is obtained and privacy ensured through anonymization and data minimization. Research ethics comply with the WMA Declaration of Helsinki (2018).

9. Data Sharing

As our journals primarily publish review articles, case reports, and guideline overviews, no raw data is typically generated. If original data are included, availability is disclosed accordingly.

10. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright and grant a publication license to Aerzteverlag medinfo AG. The journal model (subscription-based) is clearly disclosed. Articles are not reused without permission.

11. Advertising and Editorial Independence

Advertising content complies with Swiss legal standards and is clearly separated from editorial material. The editorial board operates independently from commercial influence. Advertisement acceptance is at the discretion of the publisher and does not imply endorsement.

12. Funding and Financial Transparency

Our journals are funded through:

  • Reader subscriptions

  • Print and online advertisements

  • Sponsored supplements and industry collaborations

Aerzteverlag medinfo AG does not receive public funding or private donations.

13. Post-Publication Comments

We encourage letters to the editor, including critical responses to published articles. These are reviewed, shared with the original authors, and published when appropriate.

14. Publishing Schedule

Our journals are published in regular intervals, such as monthly or bimonthly. Exact schedules are available on the respective journal websites.

15. Contact

For questions or concerns regarding publication ethics, please contact:
✉️ verlag@medinfo-verlag.ch
📞 +41 (0)44 915 70 80

Last updated: July 2025