Patients have a right to privacy that should not be violated without informed consent. For any submissions including information which can potentially identify an individual, such as names, initials, or hospital numbers, the information should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, or pedigrees unless it is essential for scientific purposes and written informed consent to publish the details has been obtained from the affected individual (or their parents/guardians if the participant is not an adult or unable to give informed consent; if the person is deceased, consent for publication must be acquired from their next of kin). However, if consent has not been obtained, it is generally not sufficient to anonymize a photograph simply by using eye bars or blurring the face of the individual concerned.

To obtain consent for publication, authors can use the consent form from their institution or region, if suitable. The consent form must specify that the details/images/videos will be freely available on the internet and that the general public will be able to view them. Authors do not need to provide a copy of the consent form to the editorial office; however, if the Editor requests it, the consent form must be provided and will be kept confidential.

Consent for image publication may not be necessary for circumstances where photographs are completely unidentified, and there are no details on persons mentioned within the text, for example, x-rays, ultrasound images, laparoscopic images, etc. The Editor reserves the right on whether or not consent to publish is required.