Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that a relevant factual or methodological error, an unmanaged conflict of interest, or a failure to follow the editorial procedure has occurred.

An appeal must be submitted only once through the journal’s institutional channel and must provide specific scientific arguments. Disagreement with the decision alone is not sufficient grounds for an appeal.

The Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial assessment. When appropriate, the case may be referred to an independent editor or reviewer who was not involved in the original decision. An appeal does not automatically suspend the decision, and its submission does not guarantee that the decision will be changed.

Complaints concerning editorial conduct, ethics, treatment, delays, or journal operations will be examined confidentially and impartially. When a complaint involves the Editor-in-Chief, it will be referred to an independent editorial or institutional authority.

The journal will provide a reasoned response once the assessment has been completed.