Ethics Regulations
Enacted by the Board of Directors on November 16, 2013
Revised by the Board of Directors on September 8, 2016
Revised by the Board of Directors on April 11, 2019
Revised by the Board of Directors on June 12, 2021
(General Rules)
Article 1 The conduct of members of the Japan Society of Medical Physics (henceforth, The Society) when conducting academic research and activities will be appropriate, harmonious, and in compliance with the “Ethical Guidelines for Life Science, Medical and Health Research involving Human Subjects” (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Notice No. 1, 2021) and the “Fundamental Guidelines for Proper Conduct of Animal Experiments and Related Activities in Academic Research Institutions” (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Notice No. 71, 2006)
2 Members may consult The Society if they have any doubts concerning the interpretation of these regulations or ethical concerns on matters not stipulated in the regulations.
(Scope of Application)
Article 2 These regulations cover the ethics for academic research presentations by members (including paper presentations), academic research, and projects carried out by The Society, and education & awareness-raising on research ethics carried out by The Society for members.
(Fundamental Position)
Article 3 Members will properly conduct academic research and activities in acknowledgement of the basic human rights of all peoples.
2 Members will remember to prioritize above all else the value of all life, including those of non-human animals, when participating in academic activities within the field of medical physics and other related activities.
3 Members must act in compliance with these regulations; they must also fully comprehend the regulations and act within the spirit of their enactment in cases not stipulated under the regulations.
(Awareness and Responsibility as a Member)
Article 4 Members will be aware of the impact of their research and practical activities on individuals and society, and will aim to make contributions that create benefits for many individuals and society through their general activities.
2 Members must solicit in advance the opinions of the Ethical Review Board and the Animal Care and Use Committee in their institutions and obtain approval from the head of the research institution when planning and carrying out life science and medical research for human or experiments on animals.
(Duty of Researchers etc.)
Article 5 Members and groups in The Society, who constitute the main body and carry out research (henceforth “researchers”), will enforce the strict handling and record holding of research data during the various stages of a research proposal, planning, implementation, and reporting, and will neither engage in such malpractices as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, multiple submission, or duplicate publication, nor assist in any such practices.
2 If a member discovers any such practices as suggested above, they must inform The Society without delay.
(Responsibility of Joint Researchers)
Article 6 Joint researchers are part of the research team carrying out research, and are identified as all researchers jointly named as authors in research presentations at lectures, academic conferences, or in papers. Researchers must not include an individual as a joint researcher in a research team or list them as a co-author without that individual’s consent.
2 Researchers must not list an individual who has not contributed to the experiments or intellectual activity of a piece of research as a joint researcher.
3 All joint researchers will bear their obligations as a researcher in accordance with the level of their contribution to the research in question.
(Maintaining Fairness)
Article 7 Members will not discriminate against an individual on the basis of race, gender, age, status, affiliation, ideology, or religion, and will respect individuals’ human rights and character. Moreover, they will respect individual freedom and act fairly.
(Conflicts of Interest)
Article 8 Members will conform with the “Guidelines for Conflict of Interest (COI) Management in Health and Labour Sciences Research” (published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in March 2008), and must respond appropriately to companies assumed to have interests and affiliated “conflicts of interest” in order to maintain the impartiality and reliability of their research.
2 A conflict of interest is identified as a case where the impartiality and appropriate judgement required in research are lost, or where a third party may question whether they are lost, as a result of an economic interest.
3 Researchers must disclose whenever they accept cash, goods, shares, or other items exceeding the limits separately determined from companies during the course of research or academic presentations.
4 Researchers must not include company names or phrases that could identify a specific company in their research themes or academic presentation titles in cases where it could damage their scientific neutrality.
5 When making judgements as a professional specialist or in the course of one’s work, members must always maintain impartiality, and not hold prejudices, avoid conflicts of interest, and ward against improper influence from others.
(Ethics Committee)
Article 9 The Society will have an Ethics Committee in order to fulfil Article 1 of these regulations.
2 The Ethics Committee is responsible for examining and investigating cases that are reported to the committee as violating these regulations from both an ethical and societal viewpoint, and for reporting the results of its review to the board of directors.
(Compliance and Review of Ethics)
Article 10 These regulations are to be complied with by all relevant parties affiliated with The Society, and members must fully understand and take care not to violate them.
2 The Ethics Committee will carry out the necessary investigation and review whenever required for cases in relation to Article 1 and Article 2 of these regulations.
3 The reason for the report and name and affiliation of the complainant should be noted and submitted to the Ethics Committee Chairperson whenever a regulation violation is reported.
4 Members will accept the Ethics Committee’s investigation when a violation is reported.
5 The Society will inform the authorities in the member’s affiliated institution whenever the truth of a violation is ascertained.
(Composition of the Ethics Committee)
Article 11 The Ethics Committee will be composed of both genders, and as follows.
(1) Vice President
(2) Six or more members including director
(3) A small number of independent experts (including legal and ethical experts)
(4) Others deemed to be required.
2 Committee members (2) to (4) in the previous clause will be approved by the board of directors on the basis of recommendation by the vice president.
(Term of Office)
Article 12 The terms of office in the previous article will be set in principle at two years. If a committee member vacates their seat before the end of a term of office, a successor will be chosen. However, the term of office for the post committee member will be the remainder of their predecessor’s term.
2 The committee member in the previous clause may then be reappointed.
(Committee Chairperson and Convening)
Article 13 The Ethics Committee will have a chairperson appointed by the vice president.
2 The chairperson will convene and chair the Ethics Committee whenever an ethics case is reported.
3 If the chairperson has an accident, a committee member chosen in advance by the chairperson will carry out their duties in their place.
(Proceedings)
Article 14 The Ethics Committee cannot convene without the attendance of two- thirds or more of its members.
2 No committee members with a connection to the case under review may participate in deliberations or resolutions relating to that case.
3 Proceedings in the Ethics Committee will be decided by a two-thirds or higher majority of its members present.
(Attendance of non-committee members)
Article 15 Non-committee members may be asked to attend and give explanations or opinions when deemed necessary by the Ethics Committee.
Supplementary Provisions
1 These regulations may be revised by resolution of the board of directors.
2 These regulations will apply from June 12, 2021