Retraction and Correction Policy

AI Med is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. The journal follows the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding retractions, expressions of concern, and corrections.

1. Corrections (Errata and Corrigenda)

Corrections are issued for minor errors that do not invalidate the scientific findings of the paper. There are two types of corrections:

• Erratum (Publisher Correction): Issued for errors introduced by the publisher (e.g., typographical errors, layout issues, or production mistakes not introduced by the authors).
• Corrigendum (Author Correction): Issued for errors introduced by the authors (e.g., incorrect affiliation, mislabeled figure, minor computational error that does not affect conclusions).

All corrections will be published as a separate notice clearly linked to the original article and clearly labeled as a Correction. The original article will be updated with a note linking to the correction notice.

2. Retractions

Retractions are issued when a published article is found to contain major errors, unreliable data, or findings that cannot be relied upon, or when the article constitutes research or publication misconduct. Grounds for retraction include, but are not limited to:

• Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data or images
• Plagiarism (including self-plagiarism or duplicate publication)
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest that significantly undermine the article's conclusions
• Unethical research (e.g., lack of informed consent, ethical approval violations)
• Honest errors that invalidate the main conclusions of the study

The retraction process follows COPE retraction guidelines. Retractions may be initiated by the authors, editors, or the publisher. A formal Retraction Notice will be published, which:

• Clearly states the reason for retraction
• Identifies who is retracting the article (authors and/or editors)
• Is linked to the original article

The original article will remain available online but will be clearly marked as "Retracted" on all versions (HTML, PDF) and on the article's page, to preserve the scientific record while clearly indicating its retracted status.

3. Expressions of Concern

In cases where an investigation into suspected misconduct is ongoing but inconclusive, or where there is strong evidence of a problem but the matter has not been resolved, an Expression of Concern may be published to alert readers while the investigation proceeds. Expressions of Concern will be linked to the original article and clearly labeled.

4. Removal or Replacement of Published Content

In exceptional circumstances, AI Med may remove or replace the content of a published article:

• Removal: An article may be removed if it is found to be defamatory, to infringe legal rights, or to pose a serious risk to public health. In such cases, the metadata (title and authors) will be retained on the website, along with a statement explaining why the content has been removed.
• Replacement: If an honest error leads to an incorrect conclusion that would be harmful if acted upon, the original article may be replaced with a corrected version. In this case, a clear statement explaining the reason for replacement will accompany the corrected article.

5. Reporting Concerns

Any concerns regarding published articles should be reported to the Editorial Office at [email protected]. The Editor-in-Chief will investigate the matter following COPE Flowcharts. The journal commits to responding to all valid concerns and taking appropriate action in a timely manner.