The Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record by issuing corrections, retractions, and editorial updates as needed. Below is an outline of how such cases are managed.
Types of Post-Publication Updates
1. Author Correction
- Published to address significant errors made by the author(s) that impact:
- The scientific integrity of the work,
- The publication record,
- The reputation of the authors or the journal.
2. Author Name Change
- Authors can request changes to their name, pronouns, or other biographical details for reasons such as gender transition or religious conversion.
- Changes can be made either silently (without a note in the article) or through a formal public Author Correction.
3. Addendum
- Published to include significant new information essential for a reader’s understanding of the article, discovered post-publication.
4. Editor’s Note
- A temporary notification alerting readers that an inquiry has been initiated regarding a published article.
- Visible only in the online version and not indexed.
5. Retraction
- Articles may be retracted if their integrity is fundamentally compromised due to errors or ethical violations.
- Retraction notices:
- Include bi-directional links to the original article, which remains accessible but marked as retracted.
- State whether the authors agree or disagree with the retraction.
Correction Transparency
- Errors that affect key data (e.g., figures, tables, text) are addressed in amendment notices that reproduce the original and corrected data.
- When it’s impossible to update the original article (e.g., older publications), the original remains unchanged, but the correction notice is linked to it.
Content Removal
In exceptional cases, RJOR may remove content from its platforms when:
- It is defamatory, infringes legal rights, or is otherwise unlawful.
- Court or government orders mandate removal.
- It poses an immediate and serious health risk.
While bibliographic metadata (e.g., title, authors) will be retained, an explanatory statement will accompany the removal.
Addressing Post-Publication Issues
Investigation Process
- Concerns raised by authors or readers are thoroughly reviewed.
- Authors are given an opportunity to respond.
- RJOR may request original data and consult experts during investigations.
Possible Outcomes
- For manuscripts under consideration:
- They may be rejected and returned to the author.
- For published articles, based on the severity:
- Corrections or addenda may be issued.
- An Editor’s Note or EEoC may be published.
- The article may be retracted.
- The author’s institution may be informed of serious issues.
Transparency and Integrity
- Notifications aim to ensure record integrity without assigning individual blame.
- Institutional investigation reports, if public, may be referenced.
- Investigations require time due to their complexity, but updates (e.g., Editor’s Notes, EEoCs) are issued promptly when concerns arise.