Crossmark Policy on Updates, Corrections and Retractions
Crossmark Policy on Updates, Corrections and Retractions
Medicina Clínica y Social is committed to preserving the integrity, transparency, and traceability of the scholarly record. The journal uses Crossmark, a Crossref service, to allow readers to verify whether a published document is the current version of record or whether it has been subject to a post-publication editorial update.
By clicking the Crossmark button available in the HTML and/or PDF version of articles, readers can check the current status of the document, including the existence of corrections, errata, corrigenda, expressions of concern, retractions, withdrawals, new versions, or other relevant updates.
Crossmark is implemented for articles published from Volume 10 onwards. Previously published archival content may not display the Crossmark button unless a post-publication update, correction, expression of concern, retraction, withdrawal, or other editorial action is required.
1. Scope of the policy
This policy applies to content published by Medicina Clínica y Social that has a DOI registered with Crossref and participates in the Crossmark service. This may include original articles, review articles, brief communications, letters to the editor, editorials, and other documents published by the journal, as applicable.
The presence of the Crossmark button indicates that the journal is committed to maintaining the scholarly record and informing readers about relevant post-publication changes.
2. Version of record
The version officially published on the Medicina Clínica y Social website is considered the version of record. This version will remain permanently available, except in exceptional circumstances requiring withdrawal or removal for legal, ethical, or safety reasons.
When post-publication changes affect the interpretation, reliability, attribution, or integrity of the content, the journal will publish and register the corresponding update.
3. Minor corrections
Minor corrections are changes that do not alter the results, interpretations, conclusions, authorship, conflicts of interest, or scientific integrity of the article.
These may include, among others:
- correction of typographical errors;
- minor formatting adjustments;
- correction of grammatical errors;
- update of non-essential links;
- minor corrections that do not change the scientific meaning of the text.
These corrections may be made directly to the published version, with internal editorial documentation when appropriate. If the minor correction does not affect the interpretation of the article, it may not require a separate formal notice.
4. Major corrections, errata, and corrigenda
When a relevant error is identified that may partially affect the understanding, interpretation, citation, attribution, or reproducibility of the article, but does not invalidate its main findings, the journal may publish a correction, erratum, or corrigendum.
These updates may include, among others:
- errors in data, tables, or figures;
- errors in author names, affiliations, or contributions;
- partial methodological errors that do not invalidate the main conclusions;
- relevant omissions in acknowledgments, funding, conflicts of interest, or ethical information;
- editorial or production errors that affect the interpretation of the content.
Major corrections, errata, or corrigenda will be published as documents linked to the original article, preferably with their own DOI, and will be registered with Crossref through the corresponding Crossmark metadata.
5. Expressions of concern
The journal may publish an expression of concern when there are substantial doubts about the integrity, reliability, or ethics of a published article, but the editorial or institutional investigation has not yet been completed.
An expression of concern may be issued, among other reasons, when there are indications of:
- possible data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation;
- unresolved ethical concerns;
- undeclared conflicts of interest;
- relevant doubts about authorship or contributions;
- suspected plagiarism, redundant publication, or manipulation of the editorial process;
- pending institutional investigations.
The expression of concern will be linked to the original article and registered with Crossref when applicable.
6. Retractions
The journal may retract an article when its results or conclusions are determined to be unreliable, or when serious ethical or scientific misconduct is confirmed.
Reasons for retraction may include, among others:
- data fabrication or falsification;
- plagiarism;
- redundant or duplicate publication;
- serious errors that invalidate the results or conclusions;
- research without ethical approval when such approval is required;
- serious copyright violations;
- manipulation of the peer review process;
- relevant undeclared conflicts of interest;
- other forms of scientific or editorial misconduct.
The retraction will be published as a clearly identifiable notice, linked to the original article and, when applicable, assigned its own DOI. The original article will not be removed from the journal website, except in exceptional circumstances, but will remain available with a clear indication of its retracted status.
7. Withdrawals and removals
Withdrawal may apply to articles published ahead of issue assignment, in-press versions, or other content that must be withdrawn before final incorporation into the scholarly record.
Complete removal of published content will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- legal or court order;
- risk to privacy or personal safety;
- defamatory content;
- serious rights infringement;
- information that may cause harm if it remains publicly accessible.
When content is removed, the journal will seek to maintain an informational page indicating the general reason for removal, unless this is prevented by legal, ethical, or safety reasons.
8. New versions and updates
When an article requires a substantive update that does not correspond to a correction, erratum, expression of concern, or retraction, the journal may publish a new version or an editorial update linked to the original document.
New versions should clearly indicate:
- what was changed;
- when it was changed;
- why the update was made;
- whether the update affects the article’s conclusions.
When applicable, these updates will be registered with Crossref through Crossmark.
9. Editorial procedure
Requests for correction, update, retraction, or post-publication discussion may be submitted by authors, readers, reviewers, institutions, editors, or other interested parties to:
editor@medicinaclinicaysocial.org
The Editorial Team will evaluate each case according to the journal’s editorial policies and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). When necessary, the journal may request clarification from authors, review additional documentation, consult external reviewers, contact involved institutions, or seek specialized editorial advice.
Editorial decisions may include:
- making no changes;
- directly correcting minor errors;
- publishing a correction, erratum, or corrigendum;
- publishing an expression of concern;
- publishing a retraction;
- withdrawing or removing content in exceptional circumstances;
- publishing a new version or update.
10. Registration with Crossref and display through Crossmark
Medicina Clínica y Social will register the journal’s Crossmark policy with Crossref and, when applicable, the metadata related to updates, corrections, retractions, or other post-publication changes.
The Crossmark button will be included in participating content so that readers can verify the current status of the document. The information displayed by Crossmark depends on the metadata registered with Crossref and will be updated whenever relevant editorial changes are published.
11. Relationship with other editorial policies
This policy complements the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, the Author Guidelines, the Peer Review Policy, the Open Access Policy, and the other editorial policies of Medicina Clínica y Social.
In the event of discrepancies between documents, the Editorial Team will interpret the policies harmoniously, prioritizing the integrity of the scholarly record, editorial transparency, and international best practices in scholarly publishing.
12. Contact
For inquiries, correction requests, error notifications, misconduct reports, or post-publication discussions, please contact:
Editor-in-Chief
Medicina Clínica y Social
Email: editor@medicinaclinicaysocial.org
DOI of this policy:
10.52379/mcs.crossmark.policy
