Retraction Policy

 

Colombia Médica Retraction Policy

1. Introduction
At Colombia Médica, we are committed to maintaining integrity and transparency in scientific publishing. Article retraction is an exceptional measure taken when a published manuscript contains serious errors, ethical violations, or evidence of misconduct that compromise its scientific validity or adherence to ethical standards. This policy adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and aims to ensure the trust of readers, authors, and researchers.

2. Reasons for Retraction
An article may be retracted for the following reasons:

  1. Scientific misconduct: Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in data, analysis, or writing.
  2. Serious errors: Methodological flaws or errors that invalidate the article’s results or conclusions.
  3. Redundant publication: Duplicate or unauthorized publication in another journal.
  4. Ethical violations: Lack of ethics committee approval, absence of informed consent, or non-compliance with established ethical standards.
  5. Undeclared conflicts of interest: Omitted information that affects the interpretation of results.
  6. Manipulation of the peer review process: Evidence of interference in the review process.

3. Retraction Procedure

3.1 Identifying the Issue

  • The need for retraction may be reported by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, or institutions.
  • The journal will investigate the case confidentially, consulting the authors and, if necessary, independent experts.

3.2 Communication with the Authors

  • Authors will be informed about the potential retraction and given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
  • If there is no response or if the response is unsatisfactory, the editor will make a decision based on the available evidence.

3.3 Decision

  • If retraction is confirmed, the editor will proceed with publishing a retraction notice.
  • In cases of minor issues, the article may be corrected instead of retracted.

4. Publishing the Retraction Notice

  • The retraction notice will be published in the same section as the original article and will be clearly identified as a retraction.
  • It will include an explanation of the reasons for the retraction and the evidence supporting the decision.
  • The original article will not be removed but will be marked as "Retracted" in all electronic versions and databases where it is indexed.

5. Consequences for Authors

  • Authors involved in severe misconduct may be reported to their affiliated institutions.
  • Colombia Médica may restrict future manuscript submissions from the implicated authors, depending on the severity of the case.

6. Transparency and Ethics

  • Retraction is not intended as a punishment but as a way to correct the scientific record, protecting academic integrity and ensuring that readers receive reliable information.

7. Contact
If you have questions about this policy or wish to report a case, please contact the Colombia Médica editorial team at: editor.colombiamedica@correounivalle.edu.co

Colombia Médica reaffirms its commitment to ethical publishing and scientific integrity, maintaining the highest standards of quality in medical research.