The Process for Handling Cases Requiring Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Expressions of Concern

Our priority is to uphold the academic integrity of all our published or potential publications. To ensure this, we have established a policy for handling cases requiring corrections, retractions, and editorial expressions of concern. In cases where a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement, or distorted report has been published, we will take prompt action to correct the error and ensure it is given due prominence. If we find evidence of fraud or other serious misconduct after conducting a thorough investigation, we will retract the publication in question. We are committed to ensuring that all retractions are clearly identified to readers and indexing systems.

Corrections

Errors in published papers may be identified as a corrigendum or erratum when the Editor-in-Chief considers it appropriate to inform the journal readership about a previous error and correct the error in the published article. The corrigendum or erratum will appear as a new journal article and cite the original published article.

Retractions

Retractions are considered and published when severe errors in an article invalidate the conclusions. Retractions are also made in cases where there is evidence of publication malpractice, such as plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research.

According to industry best practice and in accordance with COPE guidelines, AME implements the following procedure if a retraction is confirmed:

1.     A retraction note titled “Retraction: [article title]” signed by the authors and/or the editor is published in a subsequent journal issue and listed in the contents list.

2. A link is made to the original article in the electronic version.

3. A screen containing the retraction note precedes the online article. It is to this screen that the link resolves; the reader can then proceed to the article itself.

4.     The original article is retained unchanged save for a watermark on the HTML and PDF indicating on each page that it has been “retracted.”

Editorial expressions of concern

Journal editors may consider expressing concern when there is substantial doubt about the honesty or integrity of a submitted or published article. However, expressions of concern should only be issued if an investigation into the problems relating to the article has proven inconclusive and if there remain strong indicators that the concerns are valid.  Under some rare cases, an editorial expression of concern may also be issued when an investigation is underway, but a judgment will not be available for a considerable time.

The expression of concern will be linked back to the published article it relates to.