Errata, Corrections, Editorial Expressions of Concern and Retractions
Annali Italiani di Chirurgia will adhere to established journal policies and follow the guidelines outlined by ICMJE and COPE, subjecting all requests for publication Errata/Corrections to a rigorous editorial review process. The Editor-in-Chief will carefully evaluate each Errata/Corrections request to determine its necessity and appropriateness. The publication of Errata involves correcting errors in the article by the publisher, including post-publication changes to the paper's format, other non-scientific changes, and changes to authorship. Very minor errors that do not affect readability or meaning may not require the publication of an Erratum. Therefore, we urge all authors to carefully proofread the final version. The decision to implement a correction depends on factors such as the nature of the error, its potential impact on the article, and the availability of supporting evidence. The Editorial Board may engage in consultations with authors, reviewers, and other experts to fully understand their decision-making process. Upon approval of a correction request, the article will be rectified in the journal's archives.
In cases where misconduct allegations are directly raised by whistleblowers, the Editorial Board diligently follows COPE's relevant flowchart. The journal is committed to responding appropriately to concerns raised about published articles on social media, and will follow the procedures recommended by COPE.
To address potential ethical misconduct, the Editorial Board may collaborate with the Editors-in-Chief to conduct more efficient and effective investigations. Communication with the Editors-in-Chief will adhere to COPE's recommended procedures.
When concerns about ethical misconduct are identified, the Editorial Board will initiate an investigation based on COPE guidelines. During an ongoing investigation, pending case resolution, or when evidence is not yet clear, attention may be drawn to the matter, and Annali Italiani di Chirurgia may consider, through the publication of an Expression of Concern, alerting readers. Editors aim to balance the seriousness of the issue (e.g., clinical impact), confidentiality, and whether journal readers should be informed. If the investigation confirms concerns, a Retraction Notice will be issued and published in the journal. The article's record will be updated to reflect the Retraction, and the article will remain in the journal archives, clearly marked as retracted. Relevant indexes will also be updated to reflect the Retraction.
Withdrawal requests for articles are subject to review by the journal's Editorial Board. Authors seeking withdrawal must submit a signed letter, co-signed by all authors, outlining their request and providing reasons for withdrawal to the journal editor. The Editorial Board will evaluate the request based on the reasons provided by the authors. Authors are reminded not to submit their work to another journal until the withdrawal request is approved to avoid potential conflicts of interest or duplication of publication.