Misconduct Procedures

Overview

JSM follows established international procedures when allegations of publication misconduct are received. All investigations are conducted confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

Potential Misconduct

Potential misconduct may include the following:

Plagiarism
Fabricated or falsified data
Duplicate publication
Inappropriate authorship
Peer review manipulation
Citation manipulation
Image manipulation
Unethical research practices
Handling Procedures

When concerns are raised, the Journal normally follows these steps:

1
Receive and acknowledge the allegation
The Editorial Office acknowledges receipt and logs the concern for assessment.
2
Conduct an initial editorial assessment
The Editor-in-Chief evaluates whether the allegation warrants further investigation.
3
Request clarification from the authors
The authors are contacted to provide clarification and any supporting documentation.
4
Consult independent experts or the Editorial Board
Where appropriate, external expertise or the Editorial Board is consulted to inform the decision.
5
Contact the authors' institution if necessary
If the investigation warrants it, the relevant institution may be informed.
6
Determine the appropriate editorial action
Based on the findings, the Journal will take one or more of the following actions:
Manuscript rejection
Publication of a correction
Expression of concern
Article retraction
Notification of relevant institutions

All investigations are conducted confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with the principles of natural justice. JSM follows the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).