Peer-Review Ethics: What Reviewers Should Consider

Ethical peer review depends on more than technical competence. Reviewers must handle confidentiality, conflicts of interest, uncertainty, and influence with care.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review should be treated as confidential material. Reviewers should not share, reuse, or discuss unpublished work outside the review process unless the journal’s policies clearly allow it.

Conflicts of interest

A conflict may be financial, professional, personal, competitive, or institutional. When in doubt, reviewers should disclose the concern to the editor rather than deciding privately that it is irrelevant.

Fairness and proportionality

Ethical review is critical but fair. Comments should focus on the work, avoid personal remarks, and apply standards that are appropriate to the field and article type.