What to do if you suspect that there is an ethical problem in a received manuscript?
The reviewer (or editor) communicates concern about a possible ethical problem in the manuscript. For example, lack of approval from the ethics committee, or concerns about patient consent, patient protection, or animal experiments.
So:
- Thank the reviewer and let them know that you plan to investigate
- The author provides the relevant details.There can be two answers:
A. Satisfactory response
- Apologize and continue with the review process
B. No response or unsatisfactory response
- Inform the author that the review process is suspended until the case is resolved Communicate your concern to the author's center or the person responsible for the center's research standards.
- From here two actions or solutions are derived:
- The problem is resolved satisfactorily, then:
- Inform the reviewer of the results of the case
2. No response or unsatisfactory response, then:
- Contact the center every 3-6 months to try to complete your research.
If:
a) The problem is solved satisfactorily, then:
- Inform the reviewer of the results of the case.
b) No response or unsatisfactory response
- Refer the case to other competent authorities
- Inform the reviewer of the results of the case
