Introduction

Medical Letter (Med Ltr) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial independence, transparency, and publication ethics. The journal recognizes that advertising may provide financial support for publishing activities; however, advertising and commercial activities shall not influence editorial decisions, peer review, or the integrity of published content.

This policy is developed in accordance with internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Editorial Independence

All editorial decisions are made independently by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board based solely on:

• Scientific merit
• Originality
• Quality of research
• Relevance to the journal’s scope
• Ethical compliance

Advertisers, sponsors, or commercial partners have no influence over editorial content, peer review, acceptance decisions, or publication schedules.

Separation of Advertising and Editorial Content

Medical Letter maintains a clear separation between advertising material and editorial content.

• Advertisements shall be clearly distinguishable from scholarly content.
• Advertisements shall not be presented in a manner that could be mistaken for editorial material.
• Sponsored content, if published, will be clearly identified and labeled.

Readers must be able to easily differentiate between advertisements and peer-reviewed content.

Acceptable Advertising

The journal may accept advertisements that are relevant to:

• Medical and healthcare education
• Academic and scientific publishing
• Research services and technologies
• Medical conferences and professional events
• Educational programs and training opportunities
• Healthcare-related products and services that comply with applicable laws and regulations

All advertisements are subject to review and approval by the Publisher or Editorial Office.

Prohibited Advertising

Medical Letter does not accept advertisements that:

• Are misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent.
• Promote illegal products or services.
• Contain discriminatory, offensive, or inappropriate content.
• Conflict with the journal’s mission, ethical standards, or scientific integrity.
• Make unsubstantiated scientific or medical claims.
• Could potentially harm patients, healthcare professionals, or the public.

The journal reserves the right to reject or remove any advertisement at its discretion.

Advertising and Data Privacy

Advertisers are not granted access to confidential information regarding:

• Authors
• Reviewers
• Editors
• Readers
• Submitted manuscripts

The journal does not share personal data for advertising purposes and complies with applicable privacy and data protection requirements.

Conflicts of Interest

Advertising relationships must not create conflicts of interest that could compromise editorial independence.

Any potential conflicts involving advertising, sponsorship, or commercial partnerships will be managed transparently and in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.

Responsibility for Advertisements

Responsibility for the content of advertisements rests solely with the advertiser.

Publication of an advertisement does not constitute:

• Endorsement by Medical Letter.
• Endorsement by the Editorial Board.
• Endorsement by reviewers or editors.
• Verification of claims made by advertisers.

Readers should independently evaluate any products, services, or claims presented in advertisements.

Policy Review

The journal reserves the right to modify this Advertising Policy as necessary to comply with evolving publishing standards, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements.

Policy Statement

Medical Letter (Med Ltr) is committed to ensuring that all advertising activities are conducted in a transparent, ethical, and responsible manner. Advertising shall remain separate from editorial decision-making, and no commercial influence shall compromise the integrity, objectivity, or credibility of the journal. This commitment supports the standards of transparency and editorial independence expected by international indexing services and publication ethics organizations, including the Committee on Publication Ethics.