Complaints and appeals

Complaints and Appeals

Authors and readers may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions, peer review conduct, publication ethics concerns, or any other aspect of the journal's operation to the Editor or the publisher at [email protected].

Process

All complaints are assigned a unique complaint number by the publisher upon receipt, which authors and readers may reference for further follow-up. Complaints are acknowledged within 2 weeks and are handled confidentially and objectively.

Appeals of Editorial Decisions

Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision should submit a written request stating the specific grounds for the appeal — such as a factual error, a procedural concern with the review process, or evidence that relevant information was overlooked. General disagreement with a reviewer's assessment alone is not sufficient grounds for appeal. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial board where appropriate, and the decision following an appeal is final.

Complaints Regarding Ethics or Misconduct

Complaints involving suspected research or publication misconduct — including plagiarism, data fabrication, or undisclosed conflicts of interest — are handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant COPE guidelines.

Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are treated confidentially, with information shared only with those directly involved in resolving the matter.