Complaints & Appeals

Surgical Research (SR) is committed to handling all complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, and in a timely manner, in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

Scope

This policy applies to complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, the conduct of peer review, allegations of research or publication misconduct, or concerns regarding the journal's adherence to its own stated policies (see Editorial Policies).

Submitting a Complaint or Appeal

Authors, reviewers, readers, or other stakeholders who wish to raise a complaint or appeal an editorial decision should submit their concern in writing to the editorial office, clearly outlining the nature of the issue and, where applicable, the specific grounds on which an editorial decision is being contested.

Appeals of Editorial Decisions

An author who disagrees with an editorial decision may submit a formal appeal, providing a clear scientific or procedural rationale for reconsideration, consistent with the journal's Editorial Process. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or, where the original decision-maker has a potential conflict of interest, by an alternative qualified editor (see Conflict of Interest Policy).

Complaints Regarding Peer Review Conduct

Concerns about the conduct, fairness, or thoroughness of the peer review process are taken seriously and investigated by the editorial team, per the journal's Peer Review Policy. Where a reviewer is found to have acted inappropriately, appropriate corrective action will be taken, which may include removing the reviewer from the journal's reviewer pool.

Misconduct Complaints

Complaints alleging research or publication misconduct are handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics policy and investigated following COPE's established guidance (see Research Misconduct & Sanctions).

Response Timeline

The editorial office aims to acknowledge receipt of a complaint or appeal promptly and to provide a substantive response within a reasonable timeframe, recognizing that formal misconduct investigations may require additional time to resolve thoroughly and fairly.

Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are handled with appropriate discretion and confidentiality, disclosed only to those individuals directly involved in investigating or resolving the matter.