Modern Care Journal
Thu, Sep 24, 2026
[Archive]
Allegations of Misconduct
| Last update: 2026/09/23 |
Modern Care Journal maintains a formal procedure for receiving, assessing, investigating, and responding to allegations of research and publication misconduct, whether concerns arise before or after publication. The journal considers, among other forms of misconduct, fabrication or falsification of data, manipulation or inappropriate alteration of images, plagiarism and substantial text overlap, duplicate or redundant publication, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, unethical research practices, and authorship misconduct. The journal uses iThenticate CrossCheck and other appropriate similarity-detection procedures as part of its screening process.
-Reporting a Suspicious Case
Concerns regarding research or publication misconduct should be submitted by contacting us through the website’s contact page or via the official email address of the journal provided on the Modern Care Journal website.
-Addressing Concerns Raised by Whistleblowers
Concerns may be raised by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, research participants, or whistleblowers. Anonymous allegations will be considered where sufficient information is provided to permit meaningful assessment. Whistleblowers will be treated fairly and their identity and confidential information will be protected to the extent reasonably possible.
Upon receiving an allegation, the responsible editor will conduct an initial assessment and may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors. Where appropriate, the journal may seek underlying data, original images, protocols, statistical analyses, or other evidence. If the matter cannot appropriately be resolved by the journal, or if institutional investigation is required, the Editor-in-Chief may refer the matter to the relevant institution, ethics committee, regulatory authority, or other competent body.
The Editor-in-Chief has final responsibility for ensuring that allegations are handled appropriately, while the publisher or an independent institutional authority may be involved when the allegation concerns the Editor-in-Chief or requires institutional investigation. The journal's procedures are designed to ensure that misconduct concerns are handled both before and after publication.
-Submitted Manuscripts
Where substantial concerns arise before publication, the editorial process may be suspended while the matter is assessed. Depending on the findings, MCJ may request clarification, raw or underlying data, ethics documentation, original images, trial-registration records, author-contribution information, or other relevant material.
A manuscript may be rejected when ethical or integrity concerns cannot be satisfactorily resolved.
-Published Articles
Concerns raised after publication will be evaluated even if the authors disagree with the allegation or are no longer available.
Where appropriate, MCJ may:
• publish a correction;
• publish an expression of concern while an investigation is pending;
• retract an article;
• notify the authors' institution, ethics committee, funder, regulator, or other relevant body;
• notify another journal where overlapping publications or other cross-journal concerns are involved;
• update article metadata and indexing information.
Whistleblowers and Anonymous Allegations
MCJ will not disregard a concern solely because the person reporting it is anonymous or has a potential conflict with the authors. Allegations are assessed according to their specificity, credibility, supporting evidence, and relevance.
The journal will not knowingly disclose the identity of a whistleblower beyond what is necessary for a fair investigation or required by law.
-False or Malicious Allegations
Good-faith concerns will be considered respectfully even if they are ultimately unsubstantiated. However, knowingly false, fabricated, threatening, harassing, or malicious allegations may themselves constitute inappropriate conduct and may be referred to an appropriate authority.
-Cooperation with Investigations
Authors are expected to cooperate with reasonable editorial requests during integrity investigations. Failure to provide requested information, original data, ethics documentation, or a substantive response may be taken into account when determining editorial action.
All cases will be considered on their individual facts, with reference to applicable COPE and ICMJE guidance.
-Responses:
To address these concerns, responses are made via the official email of the journal, adhering to legal and ethical standards.
-Communication with Institutions and Other Journals:
When necessary, Modern Care Journal may communicate with the authors’ institutions, research ethics committees, regulatory authorities, funders, or other relevant organizations to investigate allegations of misconduct. The Journal may also communicate with other journals or publishers when concerns involve overlapping publications, plagiarism, peer-review manipulation, fabricated or falsified data, or other
-Reporting a Suspicious Case
Concerns regarding research or publication misconduct should be submitted by contacting us through the website’s contact page or via the official email address of the journal provided on the Modern Care Journal website.
-Addressing Concerns Raised by Whistleblowers
Concerns may be raised by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, institutions, research participants, or whistleblowers. Anonymous allegations will be considered where sufficient information is provided to permit meaningful assessment. Whistleblowers will be treated fairly and their identity and confidential information will be protected to the extent reasonably possible.
Upon receiving an allegation, the responsible editor will conduct an initial assessment and may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors. Where appropriate, the journal may seek underlying data, original images, protocols, statistical analyses, or other evidence. If the matter cannot appropriately be resolved by the journal, or if institutional investigation is required, the Editor-in-Chief may refer the matter to the relevant institution, ethics committee, regulatory authority, or other competent body.
The Editor-in-Chief has final responsibility for ensuring that allegations are handled appropriately, while the publisher or an independent institutional authority may be involved when the allegation concerns the Editor-in-Chief or requires institutional investigation. The journal's procedures are designed to ensure that misconduct concerns are handled both before and after publication.
-Submitted Manuscripts
Where substantial concerns arise before publication, the editorial process may be suspended while the matter is assessed. Depending on the findings, MCJ may request clarification, raw or underlying data, ethics documentation, original images, trial-registration records, author-contribution information, or other relevant material.
A manuscript may be rejected when ethical or integrity concerns cannot be satisfactorily resolved.
-Published Articles
Concerns raised after publication will be evaluated even if the authors disagree with the allegation or are no longer available.
Where appropriate, MCJ may:
• publish a correction;
• publish an expression of concern while an investigation is pending;
• retract an article;
• notify the authors' institution, ethics committee, funder, regulator, or other relevant body;
• notify another journal where overlapping publications or other cross-journal concerns are involved;
• update article metadata and indexing information.
Whistleblowers and Anonymous Allegations
MCJ will not disregard a concern solely because the person reporting it is anonymous or has a potential conflict with the authors. Allegations are assessed according to their specificity, credibility, supporting evidence, and relevance.
The journal will not knowingly disclose the identity of a whistleblower beyond what is necessary for a fair investigation or required by law.
-False or Malicious Allegations
Good-faith concerns will be considered respectfully even if they are ultimately unsubstantiated. However, knowingly false, fabricated, threatening, harassing, or malicious allegations may themselves constitute inappropriate conduct and may be referred to an appropriate authority.
-Cooperation with Investigations
Authors are expected to cooperate with reasonable editorial requests during integrity investigations. Failure to provide requested information, original data, ethics documentation, or a substantive response may be taken into account when determining editorial action.
All cases will be considered on their individual facts, with reference to applicable COPE and ICMJE guidance.
-Responses:
To address these concerns, responses are made via the official email of the journal, adhering to legal and ethical standards.
-Communication with Institutions and Other Journals:
When necessary, Modern Care Journal may communicate with the authors’ institutions, research ethics committees, regulatory authorities, funders, or other relevant organizations to investigate allegations of misconduct. The Journal may also communicate with other journals or publishers when concerns involve overlapping publications, plagiarism, peer-review manipulation, fabricated or falsified data, or other
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