21. Expression of Concern

Purpose

The Pakistan Journal of Gastroenterology (PJG) is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. In situations where serious concerns arise regarding a published article, but conclusive evidence is not yet available or an investigation is ongoing, the Journal may publish an Expression of Concern to alert readers.

An Expression of Concern is a temporary editorial notice intended to inform readers that questions have been raised about the reliability, integrity, or ethical conduct of a published article. It is not a final judgment and does not imply misconduct until investigations are completed.

This policy is based on the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

21.1 When an Expression of Concern May Be Issued

The Journal may publish an Expression of Concern when there is credible evidence suggesting that a published article may be unreliable, but sufficient information is not yet available to justify a correction or retraction.

Examples include:

  • Suspected data fabrication or falsification.
  • Allegations of plagiarism or duplicate publication under investigation.
  • Concerns regarding ethical approval or informed consent.
  • Authorship disputes.
  • Image manipulation.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
  • Institutional investigations that have not yet concluded.
  • Other serious concerns affecting the integrity of the published work.

21.2 Initiation of the Process

An Expression of Concern may be initiated by:

  • The Editor-in-Chief.
  • Members of the Editorial Board.
  • Authors.
  • Readers.
  • Reviewers.
  • Academic institutions.
  • Research ethics committees.
  • Funding agencies.
  • Other credible sources.

All concerns will be assessed objectively before any editorial action is taken.

21.3 Investigation

Before issuing an Expression of Concern, the Journal will, where appropriate:

  • Contact the corresponding author.
  • Notify co-authors.
  • Request supporting documentation or original data.
  • Seek clarification from the authors' institution(s).
  • Consult independent experts.
  • Follow relevant COPE Flowcharts and guidance.

Investigations will be conducted fairly, confidentially, and without unnecessary delay.

21.4 Publication of the Notice

If an Expression of Concern is considered necessary, the Journal will publish a formal notice that:

  • Clearly identifies the affected article.
  • Explains the nature of the concern.
  • States that an investigation is ongoing or unresolved.
  • Indicates that no final conclusion has yet been reached.
  • Is permanently linked to the original article.

The notice will be freely accessible and form part of the permanent scholarly record.

21.5 Outcome of the Investigation

Following completion of the investigation, the Journal may:

  • Remove the Expression of Concern if the concerns are resolved.
  • Publish a Correction (Erratum or Corrigendum).
  • Retract the article.
  • Maintain the Expression of Concern if sufficient evidence remains unavailable.

The appropriate action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

21.6 Author Rights

Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to:

  • Respond to the allegations.
  • Provide supporting evidence.
  • Submit original data or documentation.
  • Clarify any issues identified during the investigation.

The Journal will consider all responses before reaching a final editorial decision.

21.7 Editorial Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Editorial actions are evidence-based.
  • Due process is followed.
  • Investigations are conducted impartially.
  • Readers are informed promptly when concerns arise.

The Journal will avoid unnecessary delays while ensuring fairness to all parties involved.

21.8 Policy Compliance

By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge that the Journal may issue an Expression of Concern if credible evidence raises serious questions regarding the integrity or reliability of a published article.

Such notices are intended solely to protect the scientific record while investigations are ongoing.

References

This policy has been developed in accordance with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Retraction Guidelines and COPE Flowcharts.
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations.
  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Recommendations.
  • Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOAJ, COPE, OASPA, WAME).