Introduction

Due to the nature of the discipline of forensic anthropology, forensic anthropologists routinely interact with human remains, as well as the next of kin and various communities associated with decedents. As a journal dedicated to the discipline of forensic anthropology, it is important to have guidelines for manuscripts which may contain images and other representations of human remains.

Human remains are deceased individuals, but are not traditionally considered human subjects and therefore fall outside of the scope of Institutional Review Boards (IRB). This does not mean, however, that research and other scholarly endeavors which involve human remains cannot result in harm to the decedent or their surviving next of kin and communities. The guidelines emphasize treating all involved parties with respect and dignity (i.e., respect for persons) and minimizing harm to all involved (i.e., non-malfeasance), primarily in regard to work and the presentation of scholarly findings from human remains from various contexts.

 

Guidelines for publishing in Forensic Anthropology

Publishing sensitive information and images requires careful consideration and adherence to ethical principles to balance the pursuit of knowledge with respect for individuals and communities. Ethical guidelines for publishing sensitive images should prioritize the following:

• Anonymity and Privacy: Efforts should be made to protect the anonymity and privacy of individuals depicted in sensitive images. For example, image alteration or blurring may be used to prevent the identification of subjects, particularly in cases where disclosure could lead to harm.
• Beneficence and Non-Maleficence: Authors should weigh the potential benefits of disseminating sensitive images against the potential harm they may cause. The principle of beneficence emphasizes maximizing positive outcomes, while non-maleficence emphasizes minimizing harm.
• Contextualization and Justification: Sensitive images should be contextualized within the broader context of the work. Authors should provide justifications for the inclusion of potentially sensitive images, explaining their relevance to the study without gratuitous or sensationalistic use.
• Compliance with Legal and Institutional Standards: Authors should adhere to legal and institutional regulations regarding the publication of sensitive material. This includes compliance with laws protecting privacy, human subjects, and other relevant regulations.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Consideration should be given to the cultural context of any potentially sensitive images. Publishing images that may be offensive or disrespectful to specific individuals, communities, or groups should be avoided.
• Informed Consent: Authors should obtain informed consent from medicolegal authorities and/or next of kin for images of decedents that could depict identifying information, whenever possible. This ensures that subjects are aware of how their images will be used and can provide or withhold consent. In some cases, it may be appropriate to contact family members (perhaps via investigators) and/or the medicolegal authority for permission as well as to avoid interfering with any legal proceedings. Required permissions may vary depending on the institution and local regulations. It is the authors’ responsibility to obtain all necessary permissions.
• Peer Review: All manuscripts submitted to Forensic Anthropology undergo peer review which includes an assessment of potential ethical considerations involved in the submitted work. Peer reviewers play a crucial role in evaluating the appropriateness of information and image usage and ensuring that ethical standards are maintained.

All manuscripts published in Forensic Anthropology must conform to these guidelines.