Complain and Conflict Policy

Complaint and Conflict Resolution Policy

1. Introduction

The Pakistan Journal of Surgery is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards in medical publishing. This policy outlines the procedures for handling complaints and conflicts related to editorial decisions, ethical concerns, authorship disputes, and other issues arising from the publication process.

2. Scope

This policy applies to complaints and conflicts involving:

• • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • Editors
  • Readers
  • Other stakeholders involved in the publication process

3. Types of Complaints

Complaints may include, but are not limited to:

• • Editorial Decisions: Concerns regarding manuscript rejection, acceptance, or peer review fairness.
  • Ethical Violations: Plagiarism, data fabrication, conflicts of interest, or breaches of research integrity.
  • Authorship Disputes: Disagreements about the inclusion, exclusion, or order of authors.
  • Conflict of Interest: Unreported or undisclosed conflicts affecting publication ethics.
  • Delayed Processing: Unreasonable delays in peer review or publication.
  • Misconduct Allegations: Violations of the journal’s ethical policies by authors, reviewers, or editors.

4. Submission of Complaints

Complaints should be submitted in writing via email to the Editor-in-Chief at  with the following details:

• • Name and affiliation of the complainant
  • Manuscript ID (if applicable)
  • Nature of the complaint with supporting evidence
  • Any prior correspondence regarding the issue

5. Complaint Review Process

• • Initial Acknowledgment: The journal will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 7 working days.
  • Investigation: The complaint will be reviewed by the Editorial Board and, if necessary, an independent committee.
  • Resolution Timeline: A formal response will be provided within 30 working days.
  • Appeal Process: If the complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution, they may appeal to the Publisher or an Independent Advisory Panel, whose decision will be final.

6. Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation

All complaints will be handled confidentially, and no complainant will face retaliation for raising a genuine concern.

7. Conflict Resolution Mechanism

In case of conflicts between authors, reviewers, or editors:

• • Mediation: The Editor-in-Chief will mediate to facilitate a resolution.
  • External Review: In unresolved cases, the matter may be referred to an Ethics Committee or an external advisory body.
  • Retraction or Correction: If findings indicate ethical violations, the journal may retract or correct the published work, with a formal statement of reasons.

8. Compliance with Ethical Standards

The journal adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for handling complaints and disputes. Any unresolved matters may be escalated to COPE or relevant regulatory bodies.

9. Contact Information

For any complaints or conflict resolution requests, please contact: Editor-in-Chief