Requests for correction or retraction are reviewed by the Journal's Editorial Board and evaluated in accordance with the rules established by COPE. If an error is identified in only a small portion of the published article that does not significantly impact the findings, a formal correction will be published. An erratum (for publishing error) or a corrigendum (for author error) will be published in the next issue of the journal.
If major errors are identified that affect the findings of the article, a more substantive correction or retraction will be required. If scientific misconduct or violation of ethical standards is detected, a thorough investigation will be conducted by the Editorial Board. Depending on the findings, a Retraction Notice may be issued to inform readers that the article has been invalidated. If authors are willing to retract a manuscript before it is published (accepted or under review), requests must be sent to the Editor-in-Chief from the corresponding author. The reason for the retraction request and written, signed confirmation from all authors that they accept the retraction must be sent to the Editor-in-Chief.
Correction and Retraction Notices will be published in the next issue of the journal and linked to the original articles online. All corrections and retractions will be clearly stated and publicly accessible.
In rare cases, an article may be removed entirely from the online database. These situations may include defamation, violation of legal rights, court orders, and allegations in the article that pose serious health risks. While the title and author names remain on the webpage, the text will be replaced with a notice stating that the article has been removed for legal reasons.