COMPLAINT AND APPEALS POLICY

ANJMLS follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and the recommendations of COPE and ICMJE when handling appeals, complaints, and concerns relating to the scholarly record.

Complaints and Appeals

The Al-Najam Journal of Medical and Life Sciences (ANJMLS) follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles for handling complaints and appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer-review procedures, publication ethics, or journal operations. Authors may appeal a rejection or raise a substantiated concern regarding the editorial handling of their manuscript by submitting a written and reasoned appeal to the Editorial Office.

Appeals should clearly identify the manuscript, explain the grounds for reconsideration, and provide relevant evidence where applicable. An appeal is considered only when it identifies a potential procedural error, factual misunderstanding, significant new information, or an issue that may have materially affected the editorial decision.

Appeal Review Process

1. Submission Appeals must be submitted in writing with clear reasons and supporting information.
2. Independent Assessment The appeal is assessed independently of the original decision wherever reasonably possible.
3. Editorial Review Relevant manuscript history, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, and procedural records may be examined.
4. Final Outcome The appeal may result in confirmation of the original decision, reconsideration, or further editorial assessment.

Submission of an appeal does not guarantee reversal of the original editorial decision. Decisions following a properly conducted appeal process are normally considered final.

Post-Publication Complaints

Concerns relating to published articles—including allegations of research misconduct, requests for corrections or retractions, undisclosed conflicts of interest, authorship concerns, data integrity issues, or other matters affecting the reliability of the published record—are investigated under applicable publication-ethics principles.

Editorial Integrity: Post-publication concerns are assessed objectively and confidentially. Where necessary, ANJMLS may consult authors, reviewers, institutional authorities, subject experts, or other relevant parties before determining an appropriate editorial action.

Post-Publication Actions

Following investigation, ANJMLS may take appropriate corrective action depending on the nature and severity of the concern. Such actions may include publication of a correction, clarification, editorial note, expression of concern, or retraction where warranted.

  • • Correction: Used where a published error affects accuracy but does not invalidate the overall work.
  • • Editorial Statement: May be issued to clarify an important issue concerning a published article.
  • • Expression of Concern: May be issued when substantial concerns exist but an investigation remains unresolved.
  • • Retraction: May be considered when serious errors, misconduct, unreliable findings, or other circumstances substantially compromise the integrity of the article.

Confidentiality and Contact

Complaints and appeals are handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible. Editorial investigations are conducted objectively and without retaliation against individuals who raise legitimate concerns in good faith.

Editorial Office — ANJMLS
Complaints, appeals, and post-publication concerns should be submitted through the official ANJMLS Editorial Office contact channel.