Response to Ethics Breaches

Introduction

Lex Gazette is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. Any breach of ethical conduct is taken seriously and addressed promptly to maintain the integrity of the journal. This section outlines the process for responding to ethics breaches, including investigation, actions, and communication.

Types of Ethics Breaches

Ethics breaches can include, but are not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate submission/publication
  • Authorship disputes
  • Conflicts of interest not disclosed
  • Ethical issues in research involving human or animal subjects
  • Reviewer misconduct

Reporting Ethics Breaches

  1. Who Can Report:
    • Reports of ethics breaches can be made by authors, reviewers, editorial board members, or readers.
  2. How to Report:
    • Reports should be made in writing and sent to the editorial office via email at contact@lexgazette.com.
    • Reports must include detailed information about the alleged breach and any supporting evidence.

Investigation Process

  1. Initial Assessment:
    • The Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor will conduct an initial assessment of the report to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a formal investigation.
    • If the report lacks sufficient detail, additional information may be requested from the complainant.
  1. Formal Investigation:
    • If a formal investigation is warranted, an Ethics Committee may be convened, consisting of senior editorial board members and external experts if necessary.
    • The involved parties (e.g., authors, reviewers) will be notified of the investigation and given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
  2. Review of Evidence:
    • The Ethics Committee will review all available evidence, including submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, and any additional documentation provided by the parties involved.
    • The Committee may request further information or clarification from the parties involved.
  3. Decision Making:
    • Based on the evidence, the Ethics Committee will determine whether an ethics breach has occurred and recommend appropriate actions.
    • The final decision will be communicated to the parties involved.

Actions Taken

  1. If an Ethics Breach is Confirmed:
    • Plagiarism: Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected or retracted if already published. Authors may be banned from submitting future manuscripts.
    • Data Fabrication/Falsification: Manuscripts will be rejected or retracted, and the authors may face sanctions, including a ban on future submissions.
    • Duplicate Submission/Publication: The manuscript will be rejected or retracted, and the authors will be informed of the breach. Future submissions may be restricted.
    • Authorship Disputes: Corrections may be issued to reflect accurate authorship. In severe cases, the manuscript may be rejected or retracted.
    • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Corrections may be issued, and future disclosures will be monitored closely. Severe breaches may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.
    • Ethical Issues in Research: Manuscripts involving ethical issues in research will be rejected or retracted. Authors must provide evidence of ethical compliance in future submissions.
    • Reviewer Misconduct: Reviewers found guilty of misconduct will be removed from the reviewer pool and banned from future reviewing activities.
  1. Communication and Transparency:
    • The decision and actions taken will be communicated to the complainant and the involved parties in writing.
    • In cases of retraction, a retraction notice will be published on the website clearly stating the reasons for retraction.
    • Corrections and errata will be published as necessary to maintain the integrity of the published record.

Appeals

  1. Appeal Process:
    • Authors or reviewers who disagree with the decision may submit an appeal in writing to the Editor-in-Chief.
    • The appeal must include detailed reasons and any additional evidence supporting the appeal.
  2. Review of Appeal:
    • The Ethics Committee will review the appeal and make a final decision. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the involved parties.

Conclusion Maintaining ethical standards is fundamental to the mission of Lex Gazette. By following these procedures, the journal ensures that all ethical breaches are addressed fairly and transparently, preserving the trust of the research community and the public.