Retraction Policy
Retraction Policy
Purpose of Retraction
The Operating Room Journal (TORGJ) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. Retractions are issued to correct errors that invalidate findings or to address ethical violations, such as data fabrication, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or authorship disputes.
— Grounds for Retraction —
A published article may be retracted if:
There is clear evidence of plagiarism, data fabrication, or manipulation.
The article reports findings previously published elsewhere without proper citation (redundant publication).
There are serious methodological flaws rendering results unreliable.
Authorship was granted to individuals who did not contribute significantly (ghost or guest authorship).
There is undisclosed conflict of interest affecting the validity of the research.
Legal or ethical issues arise (e.g., lack of ethical approval or patient consent).
Retraction Procedure
Retractions can be initiated by authors, editors, institutional bodies, or third parties with evidence.
• All allegations are investigated by the Editorial Board and, if required, the TORGJ Ethics Committee.
• Authors are contacted and given the opportunity to respond within a defined time frame (usually 14–21 days).
• A final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Retraction Notice
A retraction notice will be published online and linked to the original article.
• The notice will clearly state the reason(s) for retraction, who initiated it, and a summary of the findings from the investigation.
• The original article will be marked “RETRACTED” but remain accessible for transparency and citation tracking.
• Retraction notices are free to access and indexed in databases.
Partial Retractions and Corrections
In cases where only a part of the article is erroneous (e.g., a specific figure or data set), TORGJ may issue a correction or expression of concern instead of a full retraction. This decision is based on the extent and nature of the issue.
Author Cooperation
Authors are expected to cooperate fully in investigations. Failure to respond or provide satisfactory explanations may lead to retraction without author consent.
Appeals
Authors have the right to appeal a retraction decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing with supporting evidence. All appeals will be reviewed by the TORGJ Ethics Committee, and decisions will be final.
Ethical Compliance
TORGJ follows COPE Retraction Guidelines and ICMJE recommendations. Retractions are handled responsibly to protect the academic record and maintain public trust in scientific publishing.