COMPLAINTS & APPEALS POLICY

COMPLAINTS & APPEALS POLICY

Complaints & Appeals Policy

The Link Medical Journal of Health and Community Research (LMJHCR) is committed to maintaining high ethical standards and a fair, transparent editorial process. This policy outlines how authors, reviewers, and readers may raise concerns and how these concerns will be addressed. All complaints and appeals are handled according to established publication ethics procedures, with fairness, confidentiality, and editorial independence.

Types of Complaints Accepted

LMJHCR accepts complaints related to:

1.1 Editorial Decisions

  • Rejection without adequate justification
  • Misinterpretation of reviewer comments
  • Excessive or unreasonable delay in review

1.2 Peer Review Conduct

  • Reviewer bias
  • Inappropriate or unprofessional comments
  • Conflict of interest or failure to disclose COI
  • Evidence of manipulated or fabricated reviews

1.3 Publication Ethics

  • Plagiarism concerns
  • Misconduct by authors, reviewers, or editors
  • Data manipulation
  • Ethical violations

1.4 Journal Management Issues

  • Website errors
  • Publication fee billing disputes
  • Access or archiving issues
  • Communication delays

How to Submit a Complaint

Complaints must be sent via email to:

  • editor@linkmjhcr.com (editorial complaints and appeals)
  • info@lmi.education (publisher or administrative complaints)

The complaint should include:

  • Full name and email of complainant
  • Manuscript ID (if applicable)
  • Clear description of the issue
  • Supporting documents (emails, screenshots, timelines)

Acknowledgement & Response Time

  • Complaints are acknowledged within 3 working days
  • A full response is provided within 2–4 weeks
  • Complex cases may require additional time, with updates provided to the complainant

Complaints Handling Process

4.1 Initial Screening

Handled by the Editor-in-Chief, who will:

  • Review the issue
  • Determine validity
  • Assign the matter to the appropriate editor or committee

4.2 Investigation

May involve:

  • Editorial board discussion
  • Communication with reviewers
  • Review of emails, review files, and editorial logs
  • Requesting additional information from the complainant

4.3 Decision

After investigation:

  • A clear written decision is shared
  • Reasons are provided
  • If misconduct is confirmed, corrective actions are initiated

Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors may appeal:

  • Manuscript rejection
  • Ethical decisions
  • Review outcomes

Appeals are reviewed by:

  • A senior editor not involved in the original decision, or
  • An external expert (if needed)

Possible appeal outcomes:

  • Decision upheld (with justification)
  • Decision overturned
  • New reviewers appointed
  • Manuscript sent for additional review

Appeals do not guarantee acceptance.

Conflict of Interest in Handling Complaints

If a complaint involves an editor, reviewer, or board member, the handling is transferred to an independent senior editor or designated oversight authority to ensure neutrality and fairness.

Confidentiality

All complaint details are kept strictly confidential. Only individuals directly involved in the resolution process have access to the information.

Corrective & Preventive Actions

Depending on the findings, actions may include:

  • Correction or retraction of a published article
  • Reviewer replacement or warning
  • Editorial process revision
  • Formal apology to the complainant
  • Updating journal policies
  • Training for involved parties
  • Notification to institutions in serious cases

Alignment with Ethical Standards

LMJHCR follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and best practice in handling complaints, appeals, and editorial disputes.