Plagiarism and Originality Policy
The Cardiovascular Academy Society is firmly committed to scientific originality, respect for intellectual property rights, and adherence to ethical publishing standards in its official journal. Accordingly, a zero-tolerance policy is enforced against all forms of academic misconduct, including plagiarism.

Definition and Scope
Plagiarism is defined as copying, reusing, or presenting someone else’s ideas, data, visual materials, or text without proper attribution or citation. The following forms are considered plagiarism:

- Direct plagiarism: Copying another author’s exact words without quotation or citation.
- Self-plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without citation or disclosure.
- Mosaic plagiarism: Combining phrases or ideas from multiple sources to present as original content.
- Failure to cite sources: Using ideas or findings without referencing the original source.

Author Responsibilities
Any manuscript submitted to the journal must:

- Contain original content that has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
- Include proper and complete citations for all referenced materials.
- Be accompanied by permission documents for any third-party content when necessary.
- Be submitted with a declaration from the authors confirming that the manuscript is original and free of plagiarism.

Similarity Screening and Evaluation
All submissions undergo similarity analysis using professional plagiarism detection software such as iThenticate, Turnitin, or similar tools during the editorial pre-evaluation stage. While acceptable similarity thresholds are determined by the editorial board, any sections lacking proper citation are considered serious ethical violations.

Even if the similarity score appears low for technical reasons, substantial unattributed quotations, structural copying, or imitation of conceptual framework may still constitute plagiarism.

Detection and Intervention Process
Plagiarism suspicions may arise during:

- Editorial pre-review
- Peer review process
- Post-publication feedback

In such cases, a detailed investigation is carried out in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. If necessary, authors may be asked to provide clarification or a formal explanation. Based on the findings:

- The manuscript may be rejected.
- If discovered post-publication, a correction, retraction, or expression of concern may be issued.
- Severe violations may be reported to the relevant institutions.

Editorial and Reviewer Responsibilities
Editors and reviewers are expected to promptly report any suspected plagiarism to the editorial office and contribute to the ethical review process. The Association ensures that all procedures are conducted independently, impartially, and with strict confidentiality.

Through this policy, the Cardiovascular Academy Society aims to ensure reliable and ethically sound contributions to the scientific literature, while safeguarding the principles of academic integrity for authors, editors, and readers alike.