Withdrawal Policy

The International Journal of Care Scholars (IJCS) ensures that manuscript withdrawals are handled ethically and efficiently, respecting the time and effort of the editorial team, reviewers, and authors. This policy outlines the circumstances and procedures for authors to request the withdrawal of a manuscript submitted to the journal. It ensures the ethical and transparent handling of withdrawal requests while maintaining the integrity of the publication process.

  1. Definition and Circumstances of Withdrawal

Manuscript withdrawal refers to the removal of a submitted manuscript from the editorial and peer-review process before publication. Authors may request to withdraw a manuscript under the following conditions:

  • Before Peer Review: If the manuscript is no longer relevant or the authors wish to submit it elsewhere.
  • During Peer Review: If significant errors or ethical concerns (e.g., duplicate submission, plagiarism, or authorship disputes) are identified.
  • Post-Acceptance (Exceptional Cases Only): If unavoidable issues arise, such as legal or ethical concerns, requiring immediate withdrawal.
  1. Conditions for Withdrawal Approval

Withdrawal requests may not be approved under the following circumstances:

  • If the withdrawal is sought without a valid reason after peer review or acceptance.
  • If the manuscript is under investigation for ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification).
  1. Procedure for Withdrawal
  • Author Request: Authors must submit a formal withdrawal request via email to the journal's editorial office, providing: i) the manuscript ID and title, ii) a detailed explanation of the reason for withdrawal and iii) signed consent from all co-authors for the withdrawal.
  • Editorial Review: The editorial team will evaluate the request and decide based on the validity of the reason provided and the manuscript's review status.
  • Confirmation: Authors will receive a confirmation letter of the journal's decision within two weeks.
  1. Penalties for Unethical Withdrawal
  • Manuscripts withdrawn without valid justification may result in a ban on future submissions from the authors for a period of one year.
  • If ethical breaches are identified during the withdrawal process, the case will be handled in accordance with the journal’s ethical guidelines.
  1. Withdrawal Fee as Penalty
  • Before Peer Review: No fee. Authors may withdraw their manuscript at this stage without incurring any charges.
  • During Peer Review: A base fee of RM 100 will apply to cover administrative and review coordination costs.
  • After Peer Review and Before Decision: The fee will increase to RM 200 to account for the time and effort invested by reviewers and editors in evaluating the manuscript.
  • After Acceptance: If withdrawal is requested post-acceptance, a compounded fee of RM 300 will be applied to reflect the advanced stage of the process.
  • Exceptions: In exceptional cases, such as ethical concerns regarding the manuscript or unavoidable circumstances, withdrawal fees may be waived, subject to editorial approval.
  • Liability: The journal is not liable for the penalty imposed, as it reflects the effort invested by the journal team to ensure a smooth publishing process.
  • Extended Review Time Exception: If the manuscript has been under review for more than six months, the author may withdraw the manuscript without incurring any charges.