R-W-C Policy (Retraction, Withdrawal, and Correction)

1. Introduction

Journal of Sanitas et Salutem is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record in the fields of health, medicine, and public health. This policy outlines the principles and procedures for withdrawal, retraction, and correction of manuscripts and published articles to uphold ethical standards, transparency, and scientific accountability.

2. Withdrawal Policy

2.1 Definition

Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript before publication, including submissions under peer review or articles accepted but not yet published online.

2.2 Grounds for Withdrawal

A manuscript may be withdrawn due to:

  • Formal request from the author with valid reasons

  • Discovery of duplicate or simultaneous submission

  • Identification of significant errors prior to publication

  • Ethical issues such as plagiarism or authorship disputes

2.3 Procedure

  • Authors must submit a written withdrawal request to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • The editorial board evaluates the request and supporting information.

  • If approved, the manuscript is removed from the editorial system.

  • Withdrawn manuscripts will not receive a DOI and will not appear in the journal archive.

3. Retraction Policy

3.1 Definition

Retraction applies to articles that have been published and are later found to contain serious scientific or ethical issues that invalidate the results or conclusions.

3.2 Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted for reasons including:

  • Proven plagiarism or copyright infringement

  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation

  • Serious methodological errors affecting clinical or public health conclusions

  • Redundant or duplicate publication

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that influence findings

  • Ethical violations related to human or animal research

3.3 Procedure

  • Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, reviewers, or third parties.

  • The editorial board conducts a thorough and fair investigation.

  • Authors are informed and given the opportunity to respond.

  • If retraction is confirmed:

    • The article remains accessible for transparency.

    • A Retraction Notice is published and linked to the original article.

    • The article is clearly marked as “Retracted.”

3.4 Retraction Notice

The notice will:

  • State the reason(s) for retraction clearly

  • Indicate who initiated the retraction

  • Distinguish between honest error and research misconduct

4. Correction Policy

4.1 Definition

A correction is issued when an article contains errors that do not invalidate the study’s overall findings or conclusions.

4.2 Types of Corrections

  • Typographical or formatting errors

  • Errors in author names, affiliations, or acknowledgments

  • Minor inaccuracies in data presentation, tables, or figures

  • Clarifications related to methods or ethical statements

4.3 Procedure

  • Corrections may be requested by authors or identified by editors or readers.

  • The editorial board assesses the significance of the error.

  • A Correction Notice (Erratum or Corrigendum) is published.

  • The original article is updated with a clear link to the correction notice.

5. Editorial Responsibility

  • The Editor-in-Chief has final authority over R-W-C decisions.

  • All decisions are made objectively, transparently, and in accordance with ethical guidelines.

  • Documentation of all actions is maintained for accountability.

6. Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of their research

  • Complying with ethical standards for medical and health research

  • Promptly notifying the journal of any discovered errors or concerns

  • Cooperating fully during investigations

7. Ethical Standards

This policy adheres to:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines

  • International standards for medical and health research publishing

8. Policy Review

Journal of Sanitas et Salutem reserves the right to revise this policy to reflect developments in publication ethics, healthcare research standards, and best practices in scholarly publishing.