Corrections, Retractions and Expressions of Concern

The journal maintains the reliability of its published record through clearly identified notices linked to the affected article.

Corrections

A correction addresses a significant error in an otherwise reliable article, including mistakes in authorship, attribution, legal references, analysis or publication metadata. The notice explains what changed. Substantive changes are not made silently.

Expressions of concern

An expression of concern may be issued when credible questions about reliability remain unresolved, an investigation is ongoing or available evidence is inconclusive. The notice is updated when an outcome is available.

Retractions

Retraction may be necessary when the work is substantially unreliable, duplicates another publication without justification, infringes rights, or involves serious ethical failures. The notice identifies the article, who is retracting it and the reason in factual terms. Retraction is a correction of the record, not a punitive label.

Retracted articles ordinarily remain accessible with a prominent status notice. Removal is reserved for exceptional circumstances, such as a binding legal requirement or serious privacy harm; a bibliographic record and explanation are retained where lawful.

Digitisation errors are distinguished from errors in the original print article. The record identifies the version and date affected.