Corrigendum, Addendum & Retraction Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the scholarly record. This policy outlines procedures for handling corrigenda, addenda, and retractions in alignment with COPE Core Practices and international publishing standards.

Corrigendum (Correction)

Definition: A corrigendum is issued to correct significant errors in a published article that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions.

Scope:

  • Author names, affiliations, or acknowledgements.
  • Errors in data, tables, or figures that do not alter study conclusions.
  • Minor textual or methodological errors.

Procedure:

  • Authors or readers notify the editorial office of the error.
  • Editors evaluate the error and determine if a corrigendum is appropriate.
  • A corrigendum is published and linked to the original article.
  • The corrigendum clearly describes the correction, its date, and the responsible parties.

Responsibilities:

  • Authors: Report errors promptly and provide accurate correction details.
  • Editors: Ensure corrections are clear, transparent, and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Addendum

Definition: An addendum is published to provide additional information, clarification, or supplementary material that was not included at the time of publication, without correcting errors.

Scope:

  • Additional methodological details.
  • Clarifications of interpretations.
  • Supplementary datasets or analyses relevant to the original work.

Procedure:

  • Authors submit the addendum to the editorial office.
  • Editors assess relevance and ensure it does not alter conclusions.
  • Approved addenda are published and linked to the original article.

Key Principles:

  • The original article remains unchanged.
  • The addendum enhances transparency and completeness.

Retraction

Definition: A retraction is issued when a published article is seriously flawed or unreliable, due to honest error or research misconduct, and its findings cannot be relied upon.

Grounds for Retraction:

  • Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Ethical violations in research conduct.
  • Major errors invalidating results or conclusions.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest compromise reliability.

Procedure:

  • Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, or the publisher.
  • Editors investigate using COPE flowcharts and guidelines.
  • Retraction notices are clearly labeled, linked to the original article, and explain the reason for retraction.
  • The original article remains accessible but marked as retracted.

Responsibilities:

  • Authors: Cooperate with investigations and acknowledge errors or misconduct.
  • Editors: Ensure decisions are fair, transparent, and documented.

Editorial Oversight and Transparency

  • All corrections, addenda, and retractions are handled consistently to preserve trust in the journal.
  • Editors maintain clear documentation of decisions and communications.
  • Notifications about changes to published articles are provided to readers and indexed databases where appropriate.
  • The integrity of the scholarly record is prioritized over reputational or commercial considerations.

Compliance and Ethical Standards

  • This policy aligns with COPE Core Practices, ICMJE Recommendations, and DOAJ Principles.
  • Failure to comply with correction or retraction procedures may result in additional actions, including institutional notification.
  • HJBHS encourages proactive reporting of errors to ensure ethical accountability and scholarly rigor.

Post-Publication Amendments

  • HJBHS supports transparent post-publication amendments and encourages readers and authors to notify the editorial office of errors or omissions.
  • All amendments are permanently linked to the original article, ensuring full traceability.

Summary: HJBHS is committed to maintaining an accurate, transparent, and trustworthy scholarly record. Corrigenda, addenda, and retractions are issued promptly, responsibly, and in alignment with international best practices to uphold the integrity of scientific publishing.