Qanun Medika - Medical Journal Faculty of Medicine Muhammadiyah Surabaya is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal applies appropriate procedures to correct errors, retract unreliable publications, and process requests to withdraw manuscripts before publication. These procedures are guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Qanun Medika may publish a correction when an error is identified in a published article and an amendment is necessary to ensure the accuracy of the scholarly record. The editorial team will assess the nature and significance of the error and determine whether a correction is sufficient or whether further action is required.

A correction may be appropriate for errors that do not invalidate the overall findings of an article, including certain errors in author information, affiliations, data presentation, figures, tables, or other published details. The decision will depend on the circumstances and the potential effect of the error on the interpretation of the research. This approach is consistent with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, which distinguish correctable errors from problems that make published findings unreliable.

Depending on the nature of the error, the journal may issue an erratum for errors introduced during the publishing process or a corrigendum for errors originating from the authors. An addendum may be considered when additional information is necessary to clarify a published article without invalidating its original findings.

Correction notices will clearly identify the article being corrected and describe the relevant amendment. Where technically possible, the notice will be permanently linked to the original article, and the publication record will remain accessible to readers. The journal will not silently alter a published article in a way that conceals a substantive correction.

Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the scholarly record when a published article is found to be seriously unreliable or otherwise unsuitable for continued reliance as part of the scientific literature. Qanun Medika will consider retraction when supported by clear and reliable evidence that warrants this action.

In accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, circumstances that may warrant retraction include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Unreliable findings: Clear evidence that the results or conclusions are unreliable because of misconduct or honest error, such as data fabrication, data falsification, miscalculation, or serious experimental error.

b. Plagiarism: Substantial unattributed use of another person's work, ideas, text, or data.

c. Redundant or duplicate publication: Substantial overlap with previously published work without appropriate disclosure, permission, cross-referencing, or justification.

d. Unethical research: Evidence that the research was conducted or reported in violation of applicable ethical requirements.

e. Other serious publication concerns: Other substantiated circumstances that materially undermine the reliability or integrity of the published article.

Retraction will not be used automatically to resolve every authorship dispute or minor error. Where the findings remain reliable and the issue can be resolved through a correction or another appropriate measure, the journal will consider that alternative. This is consistent with the COPE guidance on retraction.

When a potential ground for retraction is identified, the editorial team will assess the available evidence and may request clarification from the authors, reviewers, relevant experts, or the authors' affiliated institution, as appropriate. The authors concerned will normally be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before a final decision is made, unless circumstances require urgent action to protect readers or the integrity of the scholarly record.

Where the evidence is inconclusive, the journal may seek further information or consider publishing an Expression of Concern while the matter is investigated. The journal may also contact the relevant institution when an investigation or verification of the evidence falls outside the journal's authority. These steps are informed by the COPE Core Practices and the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

A retraction notice will clearly identify the retracted article, state the reasons for retraction, and explain whether the concerns relate to the reliability of the findings, publication ethics, or another substantive issue. The notice will be linked to the original article wherever possible and clearly labelled as a retraction. The journal will aim to publish the notice promptly once a decision has been reached.

The original article will remain identifiable in the scholarly record, with its retracted status clearly indicated where the publishing platform permits. Retraction is intended to correct the literature and alert readers to the status of the article, rather than to serve as punishment for an author. These principles follow the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Qanun Medika may publish an Expression of Concern when substantial questions arise about a published article but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to support a final decision, or when an investigation is ongoing and its conclusion is expected to take considerable time.

An Expression of Concern will describe the issue as clearly as possible without presenting unproven allegations as established facts. The journal may update the notice or take further action when additional evidence becomes available. This approach is consistent with the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript from editorial consideration before it has been formally published. An author or corresponding author who wishes to withdraw a manuscript must submit a written request to the editorial office, explaining the reason for withdrawal. The journal may ask for confirmation from the co-authors when necessary to establish that the request is authorized and that there is no unresolved authorship dispute.

A manuscript may be withdrawn from consideration when the request is legitimate and the editorial office has confirmed the withdrawal. Authors should not submit the same manuscript to another journal while it remains under active consideration by Qanun Medika. If the manuscript has already been accepted or is in production, the editorial team will review the request and determine the appropriate action before confirming withdrawal.

Requests to withdraw a manuscript will be handled fairly and on a case-by-case basis. Where concerns arise about duplicate submission, disputed authorship, suspected misconduct, or other ethical issues, the journal may seek clarification before proceeding. COPE has discussed withdrawal requests and advises an educational, proportionate approach rather than automatic punitive measures; see the COPE Forum discussion on withdrawal during or after peer review.

Once an article has been formally published, it will not normally be treated as a withdrawn manuscript. If a serious problem is identified after publication, the journal will assess whether a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction is the appropriate mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Requests to remove a published article will be evaluated in light of the evidence, applicable ethical and legal obligations, and the need to preserve a transparent publication history. A request from an author alone does not automatically justify removing an article from the scholarly record. The journal will follow the COPE Retraction Guidelines when determining whether retraction or another corrective action is warranted.

Authors are responsible for notifying the editorial office promptly if they discover a material error or ethical issue in their submitted or published work. They should provide a clear explanation of the problem and any relevant supporting information, and cooperate with the journal in assessing the issue and determining the appropriate corrective action.

Authors who request withdrawal must provide an honest reason for the request and cooperate with the editorial office until the withdrawal decision is confirmed. Authors must not use withdrawal to conceal research misconduct, avoid an appropriate editorial investigation, or bypass the journal's publication procedures. Allegations of misconduct will be assessed on the available evidence, consistent with the COPE Core Practices.

All decisions concerning corrections, retractions, and withdrawals will be made by the editorial team based on the evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and the need to protect the integrity of the scholarly record. The journal will handle cases confidentially where appropriate, consider relevant responses, and manage conflicts of interest that could compromise impartial decision-making.

The journal will not issue a correction or retraction solely because of disagreement with an article's findings or conclusions. Editorial action must be supported by an identifiable error, a substantiated ethical concern, or other legitimate grounds affecting the publication record. These principles are consistent with the COPE Core Practices.

Qanun Medika is committed to maintaining a transparent and reliable scholarly record. Correction notices, Expressions of Concern, and retraction notices will be linked to the relevant articles wherever possible. The journal will clearly communicate the nature of the editorial action so that readers can understand the status of the publication.

All actions under this policy will be conducted fairly, consistently, and on the basis of available evidence. The journal's objective is to correct the scholarly record, protect readers from relying on seriously unreliable findings, and uphold research integrity and public trust in scholarly communication, in accordance with the COPE Core Practices and the COPE Retraction Guidelines.