Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawals

BJHMR is committed to keeping the medical and healthcare literature accurate and trustworthy, recognising that errors can affect clinical practice and patient care. When a published article requires amendment, the journal acts transparently and in accordance with COPE guidance. Post-publication notices are linked permanently to the article concerned, and the original article is preserved rather than removed, except in the rare circumstances described below.

Correction

A correction is issued where an otherwise reliable article contains an error — in its data, results, an author’s name, an affiliation or a figure — that affects the record or its interpretation. Minor typographical errors that do not alter meaning may be amended without a formal notice.

Expression of concern

The Editor-in-Chief may publish an expression of concern where there are well-founded doubts about the integrity or reliability of an article, or about the ethics of the underlying research, and an investigation is ongoing or inconclusive.

Retraction

An article is retracted where there is clear evidence that its findings are unreliable, whether through misconduct or honest error, or where the work is plagiarised, reports unethical research, lacked required ethical approval or consent, has been published elsewhere without disclosure, or rests on undisclosed conflicts that undermine its conclusions. Retractions follow the COPE flowcharts. The retracted article remains accessible, clearly labelled as retracted, with a linked notice stating the reason.

Withdrawal and removal

An author may request the withdrawal of a manuscript before publication, in writing, by the corresponding author on behalf of all authors; accepted manuscripts should be withdrawn only for compelling reasons. In rare circumstances — for example where an article is defamatory, infringes legal rights, breaches patient confidentiality or presents a serious risk to health — the content may be removed while its metadata and a notice are retained.

Raising a concern

Readers who identify a possible error, ethical concern or patient-safety issue are asked to contact the Editorial Office at bjhmr@scholarpublishing.org; see also Complaints & Appeals.