Allegations of Misconduct

Journal of Midwifery (JOM) is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record. This policy explains how we receive, assess, investigate, and resolve allegations of research or publication misconduct, in line with the COPE Core Practices.

1. Introduction

  • We handle concerns fairly, confidentially, and without prejudice.

  • Allegations may be raised at any time (before or after publication) by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or whistleblowers.

  • Actions taken aim to correct the record transparently (e.g., corrections, expressions of concern, retractions).

2. Description

For this policy, “misconduct” includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication: inventing data or results and reporting them.

  • Falsification: manipulating materials, equipment, processes, data, images, or results so research is misrepresented.

  • Plagiarism: using others’ ideas, words, figures, or data without proper credit (including self-plagiarism, redundant publication, salami slicing).

  • Authorship abuses: ghost, guest, or gift authorship; denial of authorship to contributors.

  • Peer-review manipulation: fraudulent reviewer identities, coercion, or interference with impartial review.

  • Citation manipulation: adding/requesting citations primarily to influence metrics.

  • Undeclared competing interests: financial or non-financial interests not disclosed by authors, editors, or reviewers.

  • Breach of research ethics: human/animal research without approvals or consent; misuse of identifiable patient data/images.

  • Paper-mill or systematic manipulation: coordinated practices designed to bypass editorial checks.

  • Inappropriate AI use: undisclosed or prohibited AI use to generate/alter text, data, images, or references contrary to the AI policy.

3. Policy

Commitment to investigate
All credible allegations are reviewed and, where indicated, formally investigated, following COPE guidance.

Scope
Applies to all manuscripts submitted to or published by JOM, and to all participants (authors, editors, reviewers).

Confidentiality & data protection
Identities and case materials are shared only on a need-to-know basis or as legally required; whistleblowers’ identities are protected where practicable.

Fairness & independence
Parties are presumed innocent until findings are established; individuals with conflicts of interest are recused.

Timeliness
We act promptly while allowing reasonable time for responses and fact-finding.

Cooperation
Authors must supply data, images, approvals/consents, and other materials on request. We may liaise with institutions, funders, or regulators.

Corrections to the record
Outcomes may include correction, expression of concern, or retraction with clear, accessible notices.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

4.1 Reporting an allegation

  • Send concerns to the Editor-in-Chief/Managing Editor via the journal contact channel (email: jom@med.unand.ac.id) or webform.

  • Include manuscript ID/DOI, description of the concern, dates, and supporting files (e.g., marked PDFs, similarity reports, raw data, image files).

  • Anonymous reports are considered if sufficiently specific and verifiable. Reports must be made in good faith.

4.2 Initial assessment (intake & triage)

  • The EiC or delegate screens for specificity, credibility, scope, and urgency (e.g., patient harm).

  • Immediate safeguards may include pausing peer review/publication steps and securing files/metadata.

  • If unsupported or out of scope, the case is closed with a brief rationale; if credible, it proceeds to formal investigation.

4.3 Formal investigation

  • Case lead & panel: led by the EiC or an ethics editor; a small panel and/or external experts may be appointed. Conflicted individuals are recused.

  • Notice to respondents: accused parties receive a summary of the allegation and evidence (whistleblower identity withheld when appropriate) and are invited to respond in writing.

  • Evidence gathering: review manuscripts, revisions, peer-review files, correspondence, submission logs, raw data/code, original images, ethics approvals/consents, and third-party reports. Screening tools (similarity checks, image forensics, reference audits) may be used.

  • Institutional liaison: where research conduct is implicated, we notify relevant institution(s)/funder(s) and may await their findings; interim editorial actions may be taken to protect readers.

  • Documentation: all steps and decisions are logged in a confidential case file.

4.4 Interim actions

  • Place editorial holds on review/acceptance/publication decisions as needed.

  • Issue an Expression of Concern for unresolved, serious issues in published work.

  • Request author-side remediation (e.g., raw data, protocols, image originals; corrections to acknowledgments/funding/conflict statements).

4.5 Outcomes and actions

  • No misconduct found: close the case; if allegations were public, consider a brief statement.

  • Minor, correctable issues: publish a correction (erratum/corrigendum), add missing disclosures, replace corrected images, or update data statements.

  • Serious misconduct:

    • Before publication: reject the manuscript; notify co-authors and, where appropriate, institutions/funders.

    • After publication: retract the article with a clear, open-access notice stating who is retracting and why; maintain the record with bidirectional links and metadata.

    • Inconclusive but concerning: maintain/issue an Expression of Concern pending external findings.

  • Sanctions: for confirmed serious misconduct, JOM may apply submission embargos for a defined period, revoke reviewer/editor privileges, and notify relevant bodies.

4.6 Communication and right to reply

  • Parties are informed of intake, key decisions, and outcomes at appropriate stages.

  • Respondents are given a reasonable opportunity to reply and to comment on factual summaries before final decisions.

4.7 Record-keeping and transparency

  • JOM retains confidential records of allegations, assessments, evidence, decisions, and notices.

  • Public notices (corrections, expressions of concern, retractions) are open access and linked on the article page and in metadata.

4.8 Prevention and education

  • Clear author guidelines; similarity checks; image integrity screening; statistical plausibility checks where appropriate.

  • Reviewer/editor training and conflict-of-interest declarations for all participants.

  • Data, materials, and code sharing consistent with the data policy to support reproducibility.

Related and supporting policies

COPE resources

Contact
Report concerns to the Editor-in-Chief/Managing Editor: jom@med.unand.ac.id
Include the manuscript ID/DOI, a clear description of the concern, and supporting evidence.

Back to Publication Ethics main page: https://jom.fk.unand.ac.id/index.php/jom/ethics