This policy is informed by applicable COPE retraction guidances and ICMJE recommendations. 

Article Withdrawal

Authors should not withdraw submitted manuscripts arbitrarily after the peer-review process has commenced. Withdrawal requests must be supported by valid academic, ethical, or other justified reasons.

Authors requesting withdrawal during evaluation must submit a formal written request to the Editor-in-Chief explaining the reasons for the request. The request must be signed by the corresponding author. BKM may request confirmation that all co-authors agree with the withdrawal and, where appropriate, supporting documentation from the authors' institution or research ethics committee.

For manuscripts involving registered clinical trials or public health interventions, authors should explain any implications for trial registration, ethics approval, or related research records.

A manuscript is considered officially withdrawn only after the Editorial Office has provided written confirmation. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to another journal while the withdrawal request remains unresolved.

Article Retraction

BKM is committed to preserving the integrity of the scientific and public health literature. Retraction may be appropriate when findings are unreliable or when serious ethical or publication violations undermine the validity or integrity of an article.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• Clear evidence of unreliable findings resulting from fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, or major errors that invalidate the results or conclusions.
• Serious risks to patient safety or public health arising from materially misleading findings or recommendations.
• Serious ethical or legal violations, including unauthorized use of data, failure to obtain required ethical approval or informed consent, or substantial plagiarism.
• Redundant publication without appropriate disclosure, authorization, or justification.
• Serious authorship or publication misconduct that undermines the integrity of the article.
• Other circumstances consistent with applicable retraction guidance.

Retraction Procedure

1. A potential retraction case is reported to the Editor-in-Chief or editorial board.
2. The editor assesses the available evidence and investigates the concerns in accordance with applicable COPE guidance.
3. Authors and relevant institutions or ethics oversight bodies may be contacted for clarification.
4. If serious concerns remain unresolved while an investigation is ongoing, BKM may publish an Expression of Concern.
5. The editorial decision is communicated to the authors and, where appropriate, the relevant institution.
6. When retraction is warranted, BKM publishes a clearly identified Retraction Notice linked to the original article. The online article and its PDF must be clearly marked as retracted, while the original record is preserved where appropriate.

Authors' disagreement with a retraction does not, by itself, prevent the journal from retracting an article when the evidence and applicable guidance justify that decision.

Article Correction

When an error is identified but the article's principal findings and conclusions remain reliable, BKM may publish a formal correction. Corrections may include:

Publisher Correction (Erratum): Corrects errors introduced during editorial processing, typesetting, or production.

Author Correction (Corrigendum): Corrects errors attributable to the authors, including inaccurate data, author information, affiliations, or omitted disclosures, provided that a correction is appropriate to the nature of the error.

Addendum: Provides additional information or clarification that improves the completeness or understanding of the article without improperly altering the original findings.

The journal will identify the correction clearly, link it to the original article, and maintain an appropriate publication record.

Article Removal and Replacement

Article Removal: Complete removal of an article from the journal's online platform is an exceptional measure. It may be considered when required by law or when extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious privacy breach or an immediate and substantial risk to public health, make removal necessary. Where legally and technically possible, the bibliographic record should be retained with a notice explaining the removal.

Article Replacement: When a serious, inadvertent error creates an immediate risk to patient safety or public health, BKM may consider retracting the original version and publishing a corrected replacement, subject to editorial assessment and appropriate safeguards. The relationship between the original article, the retraction notice, and the replacement version must be clearly documented.

Any removal, replacement, correction, or retraction must be handled transparently and consistently with the applicable ethical and editorial standards.

 

Post-Publication Discussion Policy

BKM encourages constructive, evidence-based discussion of published articles to promote transparency and scholarly exchange.

Readers and researchers may submit comments, critiques, or letters to the editor concerning published articles. Submissions must identify the article, clearly explain the issues raised, and provide supporting evidence where appropriate. All submissions must be professional, respectful, and scientifically relevant.

The editorial team will assess submissions impartially and may invite the original authors to respond or seek independent expert review when necessary. Accepted comments and responses may be published and linked to the original article.

Concerns involving potential errors, ethical issues, or the reliability of published findings will be handled in accordance with BKM's Retraction, Withdrawal, and Correction Policy and applicable publication ethics guidance. Appropriate actions may include corrections, Expressions of Concern, or retractions.

BKM is committed to handling post-publication discussions fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Contact: Comments, critiques, and concerns may be submitted to the editorial office at bkm.fk@ugm.ac.id. Submissions should include the article title, DOI or publication link, a description of the concern, and supporting evidence where available.