Correction and Retraction Policy

Corrections

A correction may be issued when a published article contains an error or omission that requires clarification or amendment but does not invalidate the article's principal findings, conclusions or scholarly contribution.

Examples may include errors in reported values, tables, figures, author details, acknowledgements, funding information, declarations or other relevant published content.

The editorial team will consider whether a correction is necessary in view of the significance of the error and its potential effect on readers' interpretation of the work.

Publisher Corrections

A publisher correction may be issued when an error is introduced during editorial processing, production, formatting or publication.

Examples include incorrect presentation of author information, misplaced or omitted material, formatting problems that affect interpretation or other production-related errors.

The GMS will assess the nature of the error and take appropriate steps to correct the published record.

Author Corrections

An author correction may be issued when authors identify an error in their published work that requires formal clarification or amendment.

Authors are encouraged to inform the editorial team promptly when they discover significant errors affecting the accuracy or interpretation of their article.

The journal may request supporting information and, where appropriate, consult relevant reviewers or subject specialists before determining the appropriate corrective action.

Minor typographical issues that do not materially affect interpretation may be handled proportionately without requiring a separate formal notice in every case.

Addenda

An addendum may be published when important supplementary information becomes available after publication and is necessary to clarify or complete the scholarly record.

An addendum should not be used to conceal an error that requires correction or to avoid a retraction where the published findings are unreliable.

The editorial team will determine whether supplementary information is appropriately presented as an addendum, correction or separate scholarly contribution.

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when credible questions arise about the integrity or reliability of a published article but the available evidence does not yet support a definitive editorial conclusion.

This may occur when an investigation is ongoing, important evidence remains unresolved or the journal considers that readers should be alerted to a potentially significant concern.

An expression of concern is not a finding of misconduct. It may be updated, withdrawn or followed by a correction or retraction as further information becomes available.

Retractions

A retraction may be necessary when a published article contains findings or information that are seriously unreliable, or when substantial ethical or publication integrity concerns undermine the validity of the scholarly record.

Circumstances that may warrant retraction include:

• Serious errors that invalidate the principal findings or conclusions.
• Fabrication, falsification or other significant research misconduct.
• Substantial plagiarism or inappropriate redundant publication.
• Research conducted in serious violation of applicable ethical requirements.
• Publication of identifiable patient information without necessary consent where the concern cannot be adequately resolved through lesser corrective action.
• Serious manipulation of the editorial or peer-review process.
• Other circumstances in which the published work cannot reasonably be relied upon.

Retraction decisions should be based on the available evidence and the effect of the concern on the reliability or integrity of the published record.

Who May Raise a Post-Publication Concern?

Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, researchers and other interested parties may bring credible concerns about published material to the attention of The GMS.

Requests for correction or retraction are not restricted to corresponding authors.

The editorial team may also initiate a review when concerns are identified independently.

Concerns should, where possible, identify the relevant article, describe the issue and provide supporting information.

Editorial Assessment and Investigation

The GMS will consider post-publication concerns according to their nature, seriousness and available evidence.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may seek clarification from the authors, review relevant records, consult independent experts or communicate with appropriate institutions or authorities.

Authors should ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to substantive concerns before a final editorial decision is made.

Where the concern involves possible research misconduct, an institution or other competent authority may be better placed to investigate the underlying conduct. The journal may consider the findings of such investigations while retaining responsibility for its own published record.

The GMS will seek to avoid unnecessary delay where reliable evidence indicates that corrective action is required.

Author Responses and Disagreements

The journal recognizes that authors may disagree with allegations, interpretations or proposed post-publication actions.

Relevant responses and supporting evidence will be considered as part of the editorial assessment.

Agreement from every author is not necessarily required before the journal takes justified corrective action to protect the scholarly record.

Where appropriate, a published notice may explain whether the authors agree or disagree with the action.

Publication and Linking of Notices

Formal correction, addendum, expression of concern and retraction notices should be clearly identified and made accessible to readers.

Where applicable, notices should include:

• A clear description of the editorial action.
• Identification of the affected article.
• The reason for the notice, stated accurately and proportionately.
• The publication date of the notice.
• A direct link between the notice and the original article where technically feasible.

The journal will seek to ensure that readers can readily identify the current editorial status of an affected publication.

Availability of Retracted Articles

Retracted articles will ordinarily remain accessible as part of the scholarly record, accompanied by clear retraction labeling and an appropriate retraction notice.

Retraction does not ordinarily mean that the publication is silently deleted or its previous existence concealed.

In exceptional circumstances, removal or restriction of particular content may be necessary because of serious privacy, confidentiality, legal or safety concerns.

Where content must be removed or restricted, the journal will seek to preserve an appropriate public record of the editorial action, insofar as legally and ethically permissible.

Post-Publication Responsibilities

Authors are encouraged to inform The GMS promptly if they discover significant errors or ethical concerns in their published work.

Editors are responsible for assessing credible concerns fairly and determining appropriate action to maintain the scholarly record.

Post-publication editorial decisions are independent of publication charges, waiver requests and optional author services.

The GMS aims to address such matters transparently, consistently and in accordance with recognized publication ethics principles.