Procedure for considering deviations from established ethical standards

1. Identification of deviations from ethical standards

Illegal or unethical behavior may be identified and brought to the attention of the editors or publisher at any stage of the publication process.

Anyone who informs the editors or publisher of deviations from ethical standards must provide sufficient information and evidence. All statements and requests will be accepted, reviewed and processed.

2. Investigation

The decision to undertake an investigation is made by the editor-in-chief, who, if necessary, may seek assistance from the publisher.

It is necessary to collect evidence, while avoiding any accusations.

3. Minor ethical deviations

Minor deviations do not require consultation with a large number of experts, but the author must in any case be given an opportunity to respond to any allegations.

4. Major ethical deviations

In cases of major deviations, the accused’s employer must be notified. The editor-in-chief, together with the publisher and the scientific society, will decide whether to involve the employer, or an investigation can be performed by reviewing the available data and consulting with a limited number of experts.

5. Consequences (in order of increasing deviations; may be used alone or in combination)

Notification of deviations to the author or reviewer.
A formal letter to the author or reviewer notifying him or her of the deviations in order to prevent deviations from ethical standards in future articles.
Publication of a formal warning detailing the deviations.
Publication of the article detailing the deviations.
A formal letter to the author’s supervisor, reviewer, or funding department.
Formal refusal of publication, as well as formal notification to the author’s supervisor, indexing and refereeing agency, and readers of the journal.
Ban on publication of the given author for a certain period.
Transfer of the results of the investigation to higher organizations for further decisions on these rejections.