Purpose

The Journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. When errors or research integrity concerns are identified in published articles, the Journal will take timely and appropriate editorial action. This policy follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) to ensure that the published literature remains accurate, transparent, and trustworthy.

Corrections

A correction (Erratum or Corrigendum) will be published when an article contains an error that affects the accuracy, clarity, or completeness of the publication but does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions. Corrections may address errors related to author information, affiliations, figures, tables, references, funding information, acknowledgements, or other factual inaccuracies identified after publication. All corrections will be clearly linked to the original article to maintain transparency.

Retractions

A published article may be retracted when there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to research misconduct (such as data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism), major methodological or analytical errors, unethical research practices, duplicate publication, unauthorized use of data, or other serious breaches of publication ethics. Retractions are intended to correct the scholarly record and should not be regarded as a punitive measure against the authors.

Expressions of Concern

Where a serious concern has been raised but conclusive evidence is not yet available, the Journal may publish an Expression of Concern to inform readers while an investigation is ongoing. The notice will remain part of the scholarly record until the matter is resolved through correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action.

Investigation Process

All requests for corrections or allegations requiring retraction will be carefully evaluated by the Editorial Office. Authors may be asked to provide explanations, original data, ethics approvals, or other supporting documentation. Where appropriate, the Journal may consult reviewers, Editorial Board members, authors' institutions, funding agencies, or other relevant organizations. Investigations will be conducted fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with COPE guidance.

Retraction Notice

Retraction notices will be published promptly, clearly identified, freely accessible, and permanently linked to the original article. The notice will explain the reason for the retraction while maintaining fairness and transparency. Whenever possible, the original article will remain available as part of the scholarly record but will be clearly marked as Retracted.

Editorial Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief has the final responsibility for decisions regarding corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions. Editorial decisions are made independently, based on the available evidence, ethical standards, and the recommendations of COPE and ICMJE.

Key Requirements

• The Journal follows COPE and ICMJE guidance when issuing corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.

• Minor or factual errors that do not invalidate the research may be corrected through an Erratum or Corrigendum.

• Articles containing unreliable findings or serious ethical violations may be retracted.

• An Expression of Concern may be published while investigations are ongoing.

• Authors may be required to provide original data or supporting documentation during an investigation.

• Retraction notices will remain permanently linked to the original article to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

• Editorial actions are taken to protect the scientific record and ensure transparency, fairness, and research integrity.