Research Misconduct & Sanctions

Surgical Research (SR) treats allegations of research and publication misconduct with the utmost seriousness and follows the investigative framework established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fabrication — reporting invented data, results, or findings that were never actually generated through research
  • Falsification — manipulating research materials, imaging, equipment, processes, or data such that the research is not accurately represented
  • Plagiarism — presenting another person's ideas, text, data, or work as one's own without appropriate attribution (see Plagiarism Policy)
  • Improper authorship — including individuals as authors who do not meet ICMJE authorship criteria, or excluding individuals who do
  • Duplicate submission or publication — submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously, or publishing substantially the same content in more than one venue without appropriate disclosure
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest — failing to disclose relationships, including with surgical device manufacturers, that could influence the research or its interpretation (see Conflict of Interest Policy)

Investigation Process

Allegations of misconduct, whether raised before or after publication, are investigated by the Editor-in-Chief in accordance with COPE's published guidance and flowcharts. The editorial team will typically contact the author(s) to request an explanation, review any available evidence, and, where necessary, consult with the author's affiliated institution.

Possible Outcomes

Depending on the severity and nature of confirmed misconduct, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request for correction or clarification from the author
  • Publication of a formal erratum (see Corrections & Retractions)
  • Publication of an Expression of Concern while an investigation is ongoing
  • Retraction of the affected article, in accordance with COPE's retraction guidelines
  • Formal notification to the author's institution or relevant regulatory body
  • A ban on future submissions to the journal

Fairness and Due Process

All parties involved in a misconduct investigation are given a fair opportunity to respond to allegations before any final determination or sanction is applied, consistent with the journal's Complaints & Appeals process. The journal is committed to conducting investigations objectively and without presumption of guilt.