Policy for the Evaluation of Allegations of Ethical Misconduct

Definition and Reporting

Research and publication misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and other serious breaches of publication ethics that may compromise the integrity of the scholarly record.
Allegations may be raised by:

• Authors, reviewers, editors, or readers.
• Editorial assessments, statistical evaluations, similarity analyses, or other scientific review methods.

When an allegation is received:

• The initial assessment is the responsibility of the relevant journal editor.
• Formal investigations are conducted by the authors' institutions, funding organizations, or other competent authorities rather than by the journal.

Investigation Process

1. Confidential Preliminary Assessment

The editor evaluates the nature and seriousness of the allegation. Additional supporting information or documentation may be requested where appropriate.

2. Request for Author Response

If the allegation appears credible, the editor contacts the corresponding author(s) confidentially and requests an explanation.

3. Evaluation of the Response

If misconduct is confirmed:

• Appropriate explanations are requested from the author(s).
• Corrections, retractions, or other editorial actions may be initiated where appropriate.
• Relevant institutions or authorities may be informed.

If the explanation is satisfactory:

• The editor concludes that there is insufficient evidence of misconduct and closes the case accordingly.

If the explanation is inadequate or no response is received:

• The matter is referred to the appropriate institution or competent authority.
• Information regarding the progress of any formal investigation may be requested where appropriate.
• The editor follows the process until an appropriate outcome is reached.

Confidentiality and Institutional Cooperation

• All investigations are conducted confidentially, and the identities of the parties involved are protected.
• Communication is limited to authorized individuals and institutions.
• Where the same allegation affects multiple journals, confidential cooperation between the relevant editors may be established when appropriate.

Institutional Commitment

The Emergency Medicine Physicians Association of Türkiye is committed to ensuring that allegations of research and publication misconduct are evaluated fairly, impartially, and in accordance with internationally accepted publication ethics principles. The Association supports the protection of the integrity of the scholarly record, the promotion of ethical publishing practices, and transparency throughout the editorial process.