19. Retraction of a Published Article

Purpose

The Pakistan Journal of Gastroenterology (PJG) is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record. When a published article is found to contain serious errors or evidence of research or publication misconduct, the Journal may retract the article to protect readers and preserve confidence in the scientific literature.

Retraction is intended to correct the scientific record and should not be regarded as a punitive action against authors. This policy follows 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).

19.1 Grounds for Retraction

A published article may be retracted if one or more of the following circumstances are identified:

  • Fabrication or falsification of research data.
  • Plagiarism or substantial unattributed copying.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Serious methodological or statistical errors that invalidate the study's conclusions.
  • Ethical approval or informed consent fraud.
  • Manipulation or falsification of images, figures, or data.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly affect the interpretation of the work.
  • Authorship disputes involving fraudulent authorship.
  • Peer-review manipulation.
  • Copyright infringement.
  • Any other form of research or publication misconduct that substantially compromises the integrity of the article.

19.2 Sources of Retraction Requests

A retraction may be initiated by:

  • The author(s).
  • The Corresponding Author on behalf of all authors.
  • The Editor-in-Chief.
  • The Editorial Board.
  • Readers.
  • Reviewers.
  • Academic institutions.
  • Research ethics committees.
  • Funding agencies.
  • Other responsible organizations.

All requests will be evaluated objectively and confidentially.

19.3 Investigation Process

Before retracting an article, the Journal will conduct a fair and transparent investigation.

The investigation may include:

  • Communication with the corresponding author.
  • Requests for original data or supporting documentation.
  • Consultation with co-authors.
  • Communication with the authors' institution(s), where appropriate.
  • Review by independent experts.
  • Consultation of relevant COPE Flowcharts and guidance.

Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

19.4 Editorial Decision

After completing the investigation, the Editor-in-Chief may decide to:

  • Take no further action.
  • Publish a Correction (Erratum or Corrigendum).
  • Publish an Expression of Concern.
  • Retract the article.

The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.

19.5 Retraction Notice

When an article is retracted, the Journal will publish a formal Retraction Notice that:

  • Is freely accessible.
  • Is permanently linked to the original article.
  • Clearly identifies the retracted article.
  • States the reason(s) for the retraction.
  • Identifies who initiated the retraction (author, editor, institution, or jointly).
  • Avoids defamatory or inappropriate language.

The notice will become part of the permanent scholarly record.

19.6 Availability of Retracted Articles

To preserve the integrity of the scientific record:

  • The original article will not normally be removed from the Journal website.
  • The article PDF and HTML versions will be clearly marked as "Retracted."
  • A watermark stating "Retracted" may be added to every page of the published article.
  • The Retraction Notice will remain permanently linked to the article.

Removal of an article will occur only where required by law or under exceptional circumstances.

19.7 Indexing and Database Notification

Where applicable, the Journal will notify relevant indexing and abstracting services, DOI registration agencies, and digital repositories of the retraction to ensure that bibliographic records accurately reflect the article's status.

19.8 Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

  • Cooperate fully during any investigation.
  • Provide requested documentation promptly.
  • Notify the Journal immediately if a significant error is discovered after publication.
  • Request correction or retraction where necessary to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

Failure to cooperate may result in additional editorial actions.

19.9 Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Office will:

  • Investigate concerns impartially.
  • Maintain confidentiality during the investigation.
  • Ensure due process.
  • Make decisions based on evidence.
  • Follow internationally accepted publication ethics guidelines.

Editorial actions will be proportionate to the seriousness of the issue identified.

19.10 Policy Compliance

By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge that:

  • Published articles may be corrected or retracted if serious errors or misconduct are identified.
  • The Journal has the authority to investigate ethical concerns before and after publication.
  • Retraction decisions will be made in accordance with internationally accepted publication ethics standards.

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).