Believers Medical Journal (BeMJ) is committed to protecting the integrity, accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the published scholarly record. When credible evidence indicates that the findings or publication history of an article have been seriously compromised by substantial error, unreliable data, research misconduct, or a significant ethical breach, BeMJ may issue a formal retraction.
Retraction is intended primarily to identify unreliable literature and inform readers rather than to serve as a punitive measure against authors. BeMJ manages retraction decisions in accordance with relevant COPE Retraction Guidelines and Core Practices, applicable journal procedures, scholarly publishing standards, and transparency principles reflected in Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) criteria.
Retractions are issued transparently to correct the scholarly record and reduce the risk that readers may continue to rely on unreliable findings.
The principal objectives are to:
Retraction may be considered when an editorial or institutional investigation establishes that one or more circumstances have materially compromised the reliability, integrity, or ethical legitimacy of an article. These may include:
When a potential basis for retraction is identified, BeMJ may follow a structured assessment process that includes:
Authors who identify a substantial post-publication error that makes their findings unreliable should contact BeMJ promptly and provide a clear explanation together with relevant supporting information.
Where appropriate, the authors' responsible disclosure will be accurately reflected in the retraction notice.
The journal will normally provide authors with an opportunity to respond before a retraction decision is finalized. However, author agreement is not required when the available evidence supports retraction.
If authors do not respond or disagree with the decision, BeMJ may proceed with the retraction and accurately document the relevant circumstances in the notice.
An Expression of Concern may be published when credible concerns require readers to be alerted but the available evidence remains inconclusive, an investigation is ongoing, or a responsible institution has not yet provided a definitive outcome.
A formal Retraction Notice will identify the affected article, explain the reason for the retraction, and be linked to the article's landing page. Where applicable, relevant publication metadata may also be updated to clearly reflect the article's retracted status.
A retracted article will normally remain accessible as part of the scholarly record and will be clearly marked as retracted on its landing page and available article files. Content may be removed only in exceptional circumstances involving applicable legal requirements, serious privacy or confidentiality concerns, unlawful material, or significant safety considerations.
Believers Medical Journal (BeMJ) manages retractions and related post-publication notices using procedures informed by the COPE Retraction Guidelines and Core Practices.
This policy is reviewed periodically and may be updated when necessary to reflect changes in journal procedures, scholarly publishing standards, research-integrity practices, and DOAJ transparency principles.
Retraction decisions are made to protect the accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. The Editor-in-Chief retains responsibility for the final editorial decision following appropriate assessment, consultation, and consideration of the available evidence.