The fair, constructive, and transparent handling of appeals and complaints that may arise during the publication process plays a critical role in maintaining the credibility of scientific publishing. The Heart and Health Foundation of Turkey ensures that such matters are handled according to ethical principles and international guidelines for its official journal. All appeals and complaints are reviewed by the journal's editorial office in accordance with the principles of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) under strict confidentiality.
Scope
Authors may submit an appeal if they believe that a serious error was made during the editorial decision-making process. Appeals must be based on concrete reasons such as factual errors or procedural flaws, not merely dissatisfaction with the outcome or differences in opinion.
Complaints may concern issues such as editorial conduct, procedural irregularities, ethical concerns, or actions inconsistent with the principles of fairness and integrity.
Submission Process
Appeals and complaints must be submitted in writing to the editorial office of the journal. Submissions should be sent to the official contact address listed on the journal’s website. The submission should include the title of the article, its reference number in the system, a detailed explanation of the concern or objection, and any relevant previous correspondence or supporting documents.
Evaluation and Response
The editorial office will confirm receipt of the submission within seven business days. The case will be reviewed by the relevant editorial board. If necessary, the editorial board may seek the opinion of external experts or consult COPE guidelines. A final decision will be communicated to the complainant in writing within thirty days of submission. In the event of unexpected delays, the applicant will be informed along with the estimated time of completion.
Confidentiality Principle
All appeals and complaints are handled with strict confidentiality. Information and documents obtained during the process are shared only with those directly responsible for the evaluation and resolution.
Through this policy, the Heart and Health Foundation of Turkey ensures that all academic content published in its journal is subject to ethical, transparent, and fair review processes. The careful evaluation of appeals and complaints is considered an essential component of responsible scholarly publishing.