Reporting Research Misconduct
JMMC's procedure for managing allegations of research misconduct follows COPE's guidance on the subject. A report of misconduct may concern either a published article or a manuscript currently under peer review.

Authors are expected to read JMMC's author instructions and ethical policies carefully and adhere to them before submission. Reviewers' qualifications and potential conflicts of interest are checked before they are invited to review a manuscript.

Reports are handled with sensitivity, tact, and confidentiality, following this procedure:

1. The editorial office receives a complaint that a submitted or published article is suspected of containing research misconduct. The complainant must specify the nature and detail of the alleged misconduct, for example, in a plagiarism case, identifying the specific passages and the original source.
2. The editorial office investigates, remaining in contact with the Editor and the corresponding author(s) of the article in question.
3. The corresponding author(s) are asked to respond with factual statements and any available evidence.
4. If the complaint is accepted, the outcome depends on the article's status: a published article may require an erratum or retraction; an article still in review may proceed with the necessary changes made. Where the author's response is unsatisfactory, or no response is received within the stipulated time, the article may be permanently retracted or rejected, where needed, JMMC will seek confirmation from relevant institutional or other experts before this decision is made.
5. The complainant is informed of the outcome once the matter is resolved, and the case is then considered closed.

 

Appealing a Publication Decision
JMMC's editors have full discretion over whether a manuscript is an appropriate fit for the journal, and most rejections are not eligible for formal appeal. An appeal will only be considered where the author believes the rejection was based on a specific error in the review of the manuscript. Authors wishing to appeal on this basis should provide the Editor with a detailed written description of the error they believe occurred. Where no such error is found, the Editor's decision is final.

 

Appealing a Post-Publication Decision
Where the Editor determines, in line with COPE guidance, that a published article requires retraction, correction, or another form of notification, JMMC reserves the right to take the corrective action it judges necessary to maintain an accurate academic record.

An author with concerns about such an action, a retraction, correction, or expression of concern, may contact the Editor at jmmc@mmc.edu.pk with a detailed written description of their concern and any supporting material. Authors may also raise concerns directly with COPE.

JMMC will acknowledge receipt of the complaint, and the Editorial Board will investigate in line with COPE guidelines, reviewing the article's peer review history and any relevant correspondence, and contacting involved parties for further information where necessary. The complainant will be advised of the outcome in writing.

JMMC aims to resolve concerns as swiftly as possible, though investigations can take several weeks or longer depending on their complexity, the availability of relevant information, and whether other parties, such as an author's institution, are involved. To allow due process to conclude fairly, JMMC asks that anyone raising a concern refrain from commenting on the case publicly until the investigation is complete.