Correction, Retraction and Expression of Concern Policy

JSHMDC is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the published scientific record. The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when addressing corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions of published articles.

JSHMDC will follow the relevant COPE Retraction Guidelines and COPE Flowcharts when investigating and resolving concerns relating to published articles.

CORRECTIONS:

JSHMDC may publish a correction when an error is identified in a published article that does not invalidate the overall findings, interpretation, or conclusions of the work.

Corrections may be considered for significant errors introduced by the authors or during the editorial or production process, including errors in data presentation, tables, figures, text, author information, affiliations, or other information that could affect the accuracy or interpretation of the published article.

Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the meaning, scientific interpretation, or integrity of the article may not require a formal correction.

When a correction is required, the Editorial Board will assess the nature and significance of the error and, where appropriate, seek clarification from the corresponding author. A formal correction will be published as corrigendum / erratum when necessary and clearly linked to the original article.

EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN:

JSHMDC may issue an Expression of Concern (EOC) when the editors have credible reasons to believe that a published article may contain misleading, unreliable, or potentially problematic information, but sufficient evidence to reach a final decision is not yet available.

An Expression of Concern may be published when:

The editors receive inconclusive or partial evidence suggesting possible research or publication misconduct.
There are reasonable concerns regarding the reliability of the findings, but the authors' institution has declined or failed to conduct an appropriate investigation.
The editors have reasonable concerns regarding the fairness, impartiality, or conclusiveness of an institutional investigation.
An investigation into suspected misconduct is ongoing and is expected to require considerable time before a final conclusion can be reached.
Other circumstances arise in which readers should be alerted to a potential concern about the integrity or reliability of a published article while the matter is being investigated.

An Expression of Concern is an interim notification and does not itself constitute a finding of misconduct. It will remain in place until the matter is resolved and an appropriate final action, such as correction, retraction, or dismissal of the concern, can be determined.

RETRACTIONS:

A published article may be retracted when serious errors, unreliable findings, or publication misconduct invalidate or substantially undermine the scientific integrity of the article.

A retraction may be initiated following concerns raised by the author(s), their institution, readers, reviewers, editors, or other appropriate parties.

In accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, JSHMDC will consider retracting a published article when:

There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable because of a major error, such as a serious miscalculation or experimental error.
The findings are unreliable because of fabrication or falsification of data or results, including inappropriate or misleading image manipulation.
The article constitutes plagiarism.
The findings have previously been published elsewhere without appropriate attribution, disclosure to the editor, permission for republication, or adequate justification, constituting redundant or duplicate publication.
The article contains material or data that were used without appropriate authorization.
There has been copyright infringement or another serious legal issue.
The research was conducted or reported in an unethical manner.
The article was published as a result of a compromised or manipulated peer-review process.
A major competing interest or conflict of interest was not disclosed and, in the editor's judgment, this omission may have substantially affected the interpretation of the work or the editorial or peer-review process.
Other serious circumstances are identified that substantially undermine the reliability, integrity, or ethical standing of the published article.

In exceptional circumstances, an article may be retracted and replaced with a corrected version when correction of the published record is necessary and appropriate. In such cases, the reason for the retraction and replacement will be clearly stated in the retraction notice.

RETRACTION PROCESS

JSHMDC will follow a fair, transparent, and documented process when considering the retraction of a published article, consistent with the relevant COPE Flowcharts and guidance.

A concern requiring potential retraction is brought to the attention of the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board.
The Editor-in-Chief will assess the concern and determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with relevant COPE guidance.
Where appropriate, the corresponding author will be contacted and given an opportunity to respond to the concerns. In cases involving suspected publication misconduct, the corresponding author will normally be requested to provide an explanation within two weeks.
Where necessary, JSHMDC may seek clarification or additional information from other authors, reviewers, institutions, or relevant authorities.
If an acceptable explanation is provided, the Editorial Board may recommend appropriate corrective action, which may include correction of the article or continuation of the editorial/review process where the article has not yet been published.
If no response is received within two weeks, or if the explanation is considered unsatisfactory, the Editorial Board will assess the available evidence and determine the appropriate action.
Where an institutional investigation is required or appropriate, JSHMDC may communicate with the relevant institution and may request that the matter be investigated.
The final editorial decision regarding retraction will be communicated to the corresponding author and, where appropriate, to the relevant institution or other concerned bodies.
If retraction is warranted, a formal “Retraction: [Article Title]” notice will be published on the JSHMDC website and, where applicable, in a subsequent issue of the journal.
The retraction notice will clearly explain the reason(s) for the retraction and will be permanently linked to the original article in the electronic version.
The original article will normally remain accessible as part of the published record but will be clearly identified as RETRACTED. The retraction notice will remain permanently available.

AUTHOR AND INSTITUTIONAL CONSEQUENCES

Where publication misconduct is established, JSHMDC may take appropriate action against the responsible author(s), depending on the nature, severity, and circumstances of the misconduct.

Possible actions may include:

Rejection of an unpublished manuscript.
Correction or retraction of a published article.
Restriction or suspension of publication privileges in JSHMDC for a defined period.
Permanent restriction from publication in JSHMDC in cases of serious or repeated misconduct.
Notification of the author's institution, HEC, PMC, or other relevant regulatory, professional, or editorial bodies, where considered appropriate.

Any such action will be proportionate to the seriousness of the misconduct and will be determined by the Editorial Board after consideration of the available evidence and the author's response.

POST-PUBLICATION RECORD

JSHMDC will maintain a transparent and permanent record of corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions.

Where an article is corrected or retracted, the relevant notice will be clearly linked to the original article so that readers can readily identify the current status of the publication.

A correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction notice will not normally be removed from the journal's website once published, except where removal is required for legal or other exceptional reasons.

JSHMDC reserves the right to take additional appropriate action where necessary to protect the integrity of the scientific record and its readers.