Article Correction & Retraction Policy

Honest errors are a natural part of the scientific enterprise. JRMC differentiates between factual errors requiring formal literature correction and matters of scientific debate. The journal categorizes amendments as follows:

• Erratum: A notification of a significant error introduced during the production, typesetting, or formatting process by the journal (publisher error).
• Corrigendum: A formal notification of an important, honest error made by the authors (e.g., miscalculations or methodological errors that do not invalidate the core conclusions). All authors must unanimously sign the corrigendum request.

Mechanics of Literature Correction: When a correction is warranted, JRMC adheres to ICMJE version control standards:

1. The journal will promptly publish a correction notice detailing the exact nature of the error and the subsequent changes, comprehensively citing the original publication.
2. A newly corrected version of the article will be posted, featuring a detailed log of the changes and the dates they were enacted.
3. All prior electronic versions will be permanently archived and prominently noted with a digital banner to inform readers that a corrected version is available.
4. All citations and permanent links will resolve to the most recent, corrected version.

4. Editorial Expressions of Concern (EoCs)

In highly complex scenarios where serious, credible concerns regarding the statistical reliability or ethical conduct of a published article are raised, but conclusive evidence cannot be immediately obtained, JRMC may issue an Expression of Concern (EoC).

An EoC serves as an interim warning to the scientific community that the underlying data is under scrutiny. This is typically utilized when an institutional investigation has been launched, but a final verdict is pending. Once an investigation concludes, the EoC is typically superseded by either a formal Retraction or a Correction and Exoneration statement.

5. Retraction Policy

Retraction is the ultimate corrective mechanism, utilized not to punish authors, but to ensure the long-term integrity of the global medical literature by invalidating deeply flawed research. JRMC will consider retracting an article under the following circumstances:   

• Unreliable Findings: There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, whether due to major honest errors (e.g., miscalculations or experimental mistakes) or deliberate misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, data falsification, or irregular image manipulation).
• Duplicate Publication: The findings were previously published elsewhere without proper attribution, disclosure to the editor, permission for republication, or justification for the redundancy.   
• Plagiarism: The article involves significant plagiarism.   
• Unauthorized Data: The article contains material or data that the authors did not have permission to publish.   
• Policy Breaches: The article involves severe breaches of publishing policies, such as multiple submissions or false authorship claims.   

Investigation and Retraction Protocols: Any allegations of publication misconduct are thoroughly investigated by the JRMC Editorial Staff, who may contact the authors' host institutions, funders, or appropriate regulatory bodies if necessary. If evidence of misconduct or fatal error is confirmed, JRMC implements the following retraction procedure:   

1. Retraction Notice: A formal retraction notice titled "Retraction: [article title]," signed by the editor and, if appropriate, the authors, is published in a subsequent issue of the journal.   
2. Digital Linking: An electronic, bidirectional link is created between the retraction notice and the original article.   
3. Article Display: A screen containing the retraction note is displayed before the online version of the article, requiring the reader's acknowledgment to proceed to the text.   
4. Version Control: The original HTML version of the article is removed from the website. The original PDF article is retained for archival integrity, but it remains unchanged except for a permanent, indelible watermark applied to each page clearly indicating that the work has been "RETRACTED".