Correction, Retraction, and Post-Publication:

Correction:
Suppose an error in the article affects its interpretation but does not compromise the article’s scholarly integrity. In that case, the journal will issue a correction statement that includes mistakes such as mislabelling a figure or omitting essential information about funding or competing interests of the authors1.

The article in both HTML and PDF versions will undoubtedly showcase the Crossmark logo, which grants readers swift and effortless access to the present condition of a content item, including any correction or retraction made to that particular record.

If an error is found in the article, a correction notice will be issued to ensure its integrity. The Crossmark button will show any updates made to the content, including corrections or retractions. Retraction notices may be issued for unresolved serious issues1,2. 

Authors can request corrections to their published articles if critical errors affect scientific integrity, the reputation of the authors, or the journal2. Corresponding authors should contact the chief editor to rectify the mistake2.

  1. Errors/missing data:  Yes, it is possible.
  2. Request to add/remove the author’s name.

Authors are responsible for thoroughly reviewing editorial drafts prior to publication. Post-publication or metadata-locked corrections may incur a Content Amendment Processing Charge (CAPC). Requests for amendments require submission of the Content Amendment Form (contact the editor). Author list changes are permitted. Title or author corrections require a new copyright agreement.

The journal will correct errors in the original PDF and HTML versions if errors are found in published articles. It will also provide an amendment notice with bidirectional links to and from the corrected article, including any changes made to data in figures, tables, or text. If the error is in an old article, provide links to the amendment notice but cannot change the original.    

Supplement:
A supplement is usually released when extra information is crucial to the reader’s comprehension of the article and was unavailable at publication. In this case, the journal will take supplement data from the corresponding author and notify readers, including the Crossmark logo in the PDF and HTML.

Editor Notes:
Editors can issue notes to alert readers to severe issues affecting a published article’s integrity. These statements are published online, linked to the original article with a DOI, and included in major scholarly databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, WoS)4.

Retraction:

The journal can retract the article from the journal website. The journal takes such action in rare circumstances where a revision notice isn’t sufficient to handle substantial cases3,4. If the need arises, this step will be taken following the guidelines described below:

  • If a court or government order has been issued or is expected to be published, material may be required to be removed.
  • If it violates a third party’s legal rights, such as intellectual property or privacy, or is otherwise illegal.
  • If there is clear evidence of misconduct, compromised peer-review, fraudulent authorship, or unethical research.
  • If outcomes violate clinical trial regulations.

Content can be removed either temporarily or permanently. However, bibliographic metadata, such as the author’s names and titles, will remain available and will include a statement explaining the reason for the removal. If a decision has been made to retract an article, then:

  • The article’s published version (HTML and PDF) includes a “retracted” watermark on the record.
  • The journal releases a distinct statement labelled ‘Retraction: [article title]’ to retract an article. This statement must be linked to the retracted article to ensure accuracy and clarity.
  • The journal makes the retraction statement accessible.

Post-Publication:
Any article adjustments will accompany a formal correction or retraction notice in cases requiring post-publication corrections or retractions. This notice will meticulously delineate the specific inaccuracies within the article and detail the comprehensive scope of the corrections applied. The notice will provide the rationale underpinning these actions for retractions or removals, ensuring transparency in the correction process5.

Withdrawal Process:

Withdrawing an article after publication breaches the signed copyright agreement and author consent. Authors are advised not to request withdrawal once copyright, consent, or metadata have been submitted.
Authors must follow the withdrawal procedures and pay the Article Withdrawal Processing Charge (AWPC). The editor will provide the withdrawal form upon request. After withdrawal, only the PDF will be removed from the server. The HTML version will display a withdrawal notice with the relevant dates.
The Crossmark logo embedded in the article provides real-time updates, including notifications of article withdrawal at the author’s request.

References:

  1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Corrections, Retractions, Republications and Version Control
  2. COPE- Retraction or correction
  3. WAME – Responding to Allegations of Possible Misconduct
  4. ORI – Handling Misconduct – Inquiry & Investigation Issues
  5. Publication Ethics: Journal Options for Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections