Article Retraction Process

An article retraction is the invalidation of a published article due to serious flaws (data fraud, major methodological errors, ethical violations) that undermine its conclusions. Retractions are distinct from corrections (which address minor errors) and are initiated by authors, editors, or institutions when integrity is compromised. The first modern retraction was published in 1948. COPE published formal Retraction Guidelines in 2009 (updated 2019) that specify when retraction is appropriate, how it is conducted, and how retraction notices are recorded. Retracted articles remain in the literature with a visible 'RETRACTED' watermark, preserving the scientific record and warning readers.