Correction and Retraction Policy

The Journal of Pak International Medical College (JPIMC) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scientific record. If significant errors, ethical issues, or research misconduct are identified in published articles, the journal will take corrective action in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

1. Corrections (Errata / Corrigenda)

Corrections are issued when:

  • Minor errors are identified that do not alter the overall conclusions of the work.

  • Examples include typographical mistakes, author affiliation errors, or minor factual inaccuracies.

  • Corrections are published in the next available issue and linked directly to the original article.

2. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published if:

  • There are unresolved concerns about the integrity of a paper.

  • An investigation into alleged misconduct or data validity is ongoing.

  • This notice alerts readers to potential issues while investigations are completed.

3. Retractions

Retractions are issued when:

  • Evidence shows that findings are unreliable due to misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation, flawed experiment).

  • The work was previously published elsewhere without proper disclosure (duplicate publication).

  • Research was conducted without required ethical approvals (human/animal studies).

Process:

  • Retractions are considered by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board.

  • Authors are informed and given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

  • Retraction notices are published in the next issue, clearly stating the reasons, and linked to the original article, which remains online but marked “Retracted” to preserve the scholarly record.

4. Author-Initiated Corrections/Retractions

Authors may request corrections or retractions if they discover significant errors in their own published work. Such requests will be reviewed by the Editorial Board to ensure validity and transparency.

5. Integrity of the Record

  • All correction and retraction notices are freely accessible and permanently available.

  • The original publication is not removed but is clearly labeled as corrected or retracted to maintain accountability and transparency.