Corrections, Retractions & Expressions of Concern

1. Purpose & Principles
This policy establishes clear procedures for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record when published work requires correction, retraction, or editorial notification of potential concerns. Our approach aligns with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and prioritizes:

·       Correcting the scientific literature

·       Protecting readers from unreliable findings

·       Ensuring transparency in scholarly communication

2. Criteria for Retraction
A retraction is initiated when a published article is found to contain fundamentally flawed or unreliable content that cannot be maintained in the scientific record. Grounds for retraction include:

A. Scientific Misconduct or Error
·       Fabricated/falsified data (e.g., manipulated images, invented results)

·       Honest errors that severely undermine conclusions (e.g., miscalculations, experimental flaws)

B. Ethical Violations
·       Plagiarism (unattributed use of others’ work)

·       Redundant/duplicate publication (without cross-referencing or justification)

·       Undisclosed conflicts of interest that affect interpretation

C. Legal or Ethical Compliance Issues
·       Unapproved human/animal research

·       Breach of participant confidentiality

3. Expressions of Concern
An Expression of Concern (EoC) is issued when:

·       Evidence of misconduct is inconclusive but concerning.

·       An investigation is pending or unresolved.

·       Readers need to be alerted while further review is conducted.

EoCs are temporary and may be replaced by a retraction or correction once a final determination is made.

4. Corrections (Errata) & Amendments
Minor errors that do not invalidate the work but require clarification are addressed via:

A. Corrections (Errata)
·       Typographical errors

·       Mislabeled figures/tables (if non-critical)

·       Incorrect author affiliations

B. Author Amendments
·       Updates to authorship (with valid justification)

·       Supplementary data revisions

Corrections are linked to the original article and clearly labeled.

5. Retraction Process
Step 1: Identification & Validation
·       Concerns may arise from readers, reviewers, authors, or editors.

·       The editorial team assesses evidence (e.g., raw data, institutional investigations).

Step 2: Decision & Notification
·       The Editor-in-Chief approves retractions after consultation with COPE guidelines.

·       Authors are notified and given opportunity to respond.

Step 3: Publication of Retraction Notice
·       The notice includes:

o   Clear "RETRACTION" label

o   Reasons for retraction (misconduct, error, etc.)

o   DOI linking to original paper

·       The retracted article remains watermarked but is removed from citation indices.

Step 4: Post-Retraction Actions
·       Indexing services (PubMed, Scopus) are notified.

·       Institutions may be informed in cases of misconduct.

6. Non-Retraction Scenarios
Retractions are not issued for:

·       Author disputes (unless fraud is proven)

·       Changes in authorship without validity concerns

7. Implementation & Compliance
·       COPE Flowcharts guide all decisions (publicationethics.org).

·       Retraction Watch standards are followed for transparency.

·       Timeliness: Retractions are issued without delay once confirmed.

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This policy ensures accountability, transparency, and trust in published research. We are committed to correcting the record while treating all parties fairly.