Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern Policy

Overview

The Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences (MJHS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. This policy sets out the procedures for issuing corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Corrections

Definition

Corrections are issued when errors are identified in a published article that affect its accuracy but do not undermine the validity of its findings or conclusions.

• Erratum: An error introduced by the journal (e.g., typesetting or editorial mistake).
• Corrigendum: An error was introduced by the authors.

Criteria for Correction

Corrections may be issued for:

• Minor factual errors, omissions, or inaccuracies that may mislead readers.
• Incorrect or incomplete authorship details, affiliations, or funding disclosures.
• Metadata inaccuracies such as keywords or author order.
• Typographical, statistical, or figure/table errors that do not alter the overall results or conclusions.

Procedure

• Errors may be reported by authors, readers, reviewers, or editors.
• The editorial office reviews the request and, if necessary, consults with the authors.
• A standalone correction notice (erratum or corrigendum) is published as a citable item, linked bidirectionally to the original article.
• The original article remains unchanged to preserve the scholarly record, but CrossMark or equivalent tools are used to indicate the update.

2. Retractions

Definition

A retraction is issued when the validity, reliability, or ethical integrity of a published article is fundamentally compromised.

Grounds for Retraction

• Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data.
• Plagiarism, redundant or duplicate publication.
• Unethical research (e.g., lack of informed consent, human or animal welfare violations).
• Undisclosed or inappropriately managed conflicts of interest.
• Authorship fraud or serious authorship disputes.
• Major errors that invalidate the study’s findings.

Procedure

• Concerns are investigated by the editorial board, and when appropriate, the authors’ institution or funding body may be consulted.
• Authors are notified and given the opportunity to respond.
• If retraction is warranted:
• A formal retraction notice is published as a separate, citable item.
• The notice states the reason(s) for retraction and whether it was initiated by authors, editors, or institutions.
• The original article remains accessible online but is clearly marked “Retracted” (watermark or banner) in accordance with COPE guidelines.
• Retraction notices appear in the Table of Contents, are openly available, and are indexed in bibliographic databases.
• Article Processing Charges (APCs), if applicable, are not refunded following retraction.

Article Removal

In rare and exceptional circumstances (e.g., defamatory content, court orders, serious privacy breaches), an article may be removed. In such cases, the bibliographic record remains, with a statement explaining the reason for removal.

3. Expressions of Concern

Definition

An Expression of Concern (EOC) is a temporary editorial notice indicating that serious questions have been raised about a published article, but the outcome of an investigation is not yet conclusive.

When Issued

• Ongoing investigations of alleged misconduct.
• Inconclusive evidence of ethical or data integrity concerns.
• Authorship disputes or unresolved conflicts of interest.

Procedure

• Editors assess the available information and, where necessary, consult relevant parties (e.g., institutions, funders).
• If concerns cannot be resolved promptly, an Expression of Concern is published as a citable editorial notice, linked to the original article.
• The notice remains in place until the matter is resolved by correction, retraction, or dismissal of concerns.

4. Editorial Responsibilities and Transparency

MJHS ensures that all editorial decisions regarding corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are:

• Neutral and fair: Authors are given the opportunity to respond during investigations.
• Transparent: Notices are open access, clearly labelled, and permanently available.
• Linked: All notices are bidirectionally linked to the affected article.
• Indexed: Notices are indexed in bibliographic databases alongside the original publication.
• Permanent: Articles remain part of the scholarly record unless legal or ethical issues require removal.

The editorial board follows COPE guidelines and flowcharts and ICMJE recommendations to ensure consistent and accountable decision-making.

Contact Information

For reporting errors, concerns, or potential ethical issues, please contact:

MJHS Editorial Office
Email: mjhs@mu.edu.sa