About the Journal
MJGH AI Policy 2025 - 2026
While the McGill Journal of Global Health does not encourage the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools, the journal recognises that authors may decide to use these devices in the research and writing process. In such cases, MJGH supports a responsible, transparent, and ethics-centred approach to the use of AI.
Authors must disclose any use of AI or AI-assisted technologies at the time of submission, including the name of the tool(s) used, how they were used (e.g., language editing, coding assistance, translation), potential limitations from using the tools, and an explanation for the use of these tools (e.g., cost efficiency). This disclosure will be shared with the editors and reviewers and may be included in the published journal.
The MJGH supports the use of AI tools to support clarity, such as refining grammar or language, but AI must not replace core research activities including generating data or references, producing scientific insights or policy recommendations, or analysing or interpreting data.
Academia is predicated on critical thinking, and the usage of generative AI tools provides no exception. In cases where generative AI tools or technologies contribute to generating text content for a MJGH submission, the article’s authors are responsible for ensuring that the content submitted reflects the authors’ own ideas and interpretations. Authors are accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity or AI-assisted content, including proper citations and verified outputs. The MJGH asks that researchers identify and engage with potentially impacted communities to gather their input and address their interests and concerns for the usage of AI during the research process. AI tools may not be listed as authors.
Global health revolves around the principles of equity, transparency, and integrity. MJGH will not tolerate the use of generative AI that violates these fundamentals. In such cases, the journal may decide to retract or reject the article.
Additional ethical considerations:
- AI output does not exist in a vacuum. Data to train generative AI algorithms have, in some cases, been obtained without permission or ethical consideration.
- Research does not exist in a vacuum. Inputting data to AI may not be private and may impact the communities involved in the study.
- Generative AI models have a significant environmental footprint, consuming substantial energy and water and contributing to the carbon footprint. Researchers should consider the value of using these tools in respect to their environmental impacts.
- Modifying prompting can yield significantly different results. It is important to think critically about the word choice and confirm consistent results with various prompt inputs.
Recommended readings:
https://guides.library.queensu.ca/c.php?g=740510&p=5351501
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-024-00493-8
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=a89a0a6c-6ea5-4303-b35d-d89fa6393461
Open Access Statement
The McGill Journal of Global Health is a diamond open access journal that provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports the greater global exchange of knowledge.
Authors will never be charged to submit or publish a manuscript and all articles will be made available under a International Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), as indicated in the Copyright Notice section.
Digital archiving policy
This journal is archived with the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) Preservation Network. This program offers a decentralized and distributed preservation, perpetual access, and preservation of the authentic original version of the content.
Self-archiving policy
Under the terms of the Creative Commons license, authors are permitted to post their work online in institutional/disciplinary repositories or on their own websites. Pre-print (submitted) versions posted online should include a citation and link to the final published version in the McGill Journal of Global Health as soon as the issue is available; accepted manuscript versions (including the final publisher's PDF) should include a citation and link to the journal's website
All articles in Volume IX, Volume X, Volume XI, and all future volumes of the McGill Journal of Global Health are published under an irrevocable Creative Commons Licence of CC-BY-NC-ND: 