Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy

Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy – Journal of Advanced Homoeopathic Studies (JAHS)

The Journal of Advanced Homoeopathic Studies (JAHS) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical issues are identified in published content, we act in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines to issue retractions, corrections, or withdrawals as appropriate.

1. Retraction Policy

A retraction will be issued when:

  • There is clear evidence of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or unethical research.

  • The article reports findings that are unreliable due to serious methodological error or misconduct.

  • Duplicate or redundant publication is detected.

  • The authorship has been compromised or manipulated.

  • Legal or ethical violations are confirmed (e.g., lack of ethics approval, patient consent issues).

Procedure:

  • A retraction notice will be published in the next available issue and linked to the original article.

  • The original article will remain online but marked clearly as “Retracted” to preserve the scholarly record.

  • The retraction notice will state the reasons for retraction and who initiated it (author, editor, or publisher).

2. Correction Policy

A correction (erratum or corrigendum) will be issued when:

  • A minor error is identified that does not invalidate the findings (e.g., typographical mistakes, author name misspelling, minor data errors).

  • Corrections do not change the overall conclusions of the study.

Procedure:

  • A correction notice will be published and linked to the original article.

  • The corrected version of the article will be updated in the online system.

  • Both the original and corrected versions will remain accessible with a clear audit trail.

3. Withdrawal Policy

An article may be withdrawn (before or after publication) if:

  • It is discovered to contain a fundamental error at the request of the authors.

  • It is accidentally submitted or published due to technical errors.

  • It violates ethical standards or journal policies before being officially assigned to an issue.

Procedure:

  • A withdrawal notice will replace the article, explaining the reason for withdrawal.

  • The metadata (title, DOI, authorship) will remain visible to preserve the publication record.

4. Expressions of Concern

In cases where an investigation is ongoing but concerns exist regarding the validity or integrity of the work, JAHS may publish an Expression of Concern. This temporary notice alerts readers while investigations are completed.

5. Responsibility for Retractions and Corrections

  • Retractions and corrections may be initiated by:

    • The authors

    • The Editor-in-Chief

    • The Editorial Board

    • External whistleblowers (with evidence)

  • All decisions are made following COPE flowcharts and with author consultation where possible.

6. Indexing and Archiving

  • Retraction and correction notices will be indexed in CrossRef, DOAJ, PubMed, and Scopus (where applicable).

  • Permanent DOIs will be maintained for both the original article and the notice.

  • Archiving systems (PKP PN, LOCKSS, CLOCKSS) will preserve all versions for transparency.

7. Alignment with International Standards

This policy adheres to:

  • COPE Retraction Guidelines

  • ICMJE Recommendations

  • DOAJ Transparency Principles

  • Scopus and PubMed requirements