Journal of Neurosurgery Academy

 The Journal of Neurosurgery Academy is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and publication ethics. Complaints and appeals are handled fairly, promptly, and confidentially in accordance with the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Scope of Complaints and Appeals

Complaints and appeals may include, but are not limited to:

• Disputes regarding editorial decisions (e.g., rejection of a manuscript).

• Allegations of research or publication misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, or ethical breaches.

• Concerns regarding the peer-review process, including potential bias, conflicts of interest, or procedural irregularities.
• Issues related to authorship, contributorship, or copyright.
• Concerns about editorial policies, journal management, or publication processes.
• Complaints regarding published content, corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, or other stakeholders involved in the publication process.

Complaints Procedure

Submission of Complaints

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office at jna@bohr.com

The complaint should include:

• The complainant's name and contact information.
• A clear description of the complaint.
• Relevant manuscript details (e.g., manuscript ID, title, DOI, publication details).
• Any supporting documents or evidence.

Timeframe

General complaints regarding editorial processes should preferably be submitted within three (3) months of the relevant event.

However, allegations of publication misconduct, plagiarism, data fabrication, authorship disputes, ethical breaches, or concerns regarding the integrity of published content may be submitted at any time and will be evaluated regardless of the publication date.

Acknowledgment

The Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within five (5) working days and provide a reference number for future correspondence.

Investigation

• Complaints will be reviewed objectively, confidentially, and impartially.
• Additional information may be requested from the complainant or other relevant parties.
• Where necessary, the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, reviewers, authors, or external experts may be consulted.
• Cases involving publication ethics may be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines and recommendations.

Resolution

A decision or update on the status of the investigation will normally be communicated within thirty (30) working days. If additional time is required, the complainant will be informed of the reason and the expected timeline.

Outcomes

Depending on the findings, outcomes may include:

• Upholding the original editorial decision.
• Revising or reconsidering an editorial decision.
• Publishing a correction, clarification, or retraction.
• Implementing improvements to editorial or peer-review procedures.
• Taking appropriate actions in accordance with publication ethics policies.

Individuals submitting complaints in good faith will not be subject to retaliation, discrimination, or adverse treatment.

Appeals Procedure

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions regarding their manuscripts, including rejection decisions, within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of notification.

Grounds for Appeal

Appeals must be based on one or more of the following:

• Evidence of a procedural error during editorial handling or peer review.
• New and significant information that was not available during the original review process.
• Demonstrable errors in the evaluation or interpretation of the manuscript.

Appeals based solely on disagreement with reviewers' comments or editorial judgments without supporting evidence will not normally be considered.

Submission of Appeals

Appeals should be submitted in writing to jna@bohr.com and must include:

• Manuscript title and identification number.
• Detailed grounds for appeal.
• Supporting evidence or documentation.

Acknowledgment and Initial Assessment

The Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt of the appeal within five (5) working days.

An initial assessment will determine whether the appeal meets the stated grounds for consideration.

Independent Review

Eligible appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and/or an Appeals Panel consisting of editors who were not involved in the original editorial decision.

The review process will be conducted confidentially, objectively, and impartially.

Additional expert opinions may be sought when necessary.

Resolution

A final decision will normally be communicated within forty-five (45) working days of receipt of the appeal.

Possible outcomes include:

• Upholding the original decision.
• Requesting additional review.
• Reconsidering the manuscript for publication.
• Reversing or modifying the original decision.

The decision of the Appeals Panel following independent review represents the Journal's final decision.

Contact Information

For all complaints and appeals, please contact:

Editorial Office
Email: jna@bohr.com