ADDRESSING ETHICAL DILEMMAS: AUTHORS WITHDRAWING MANUSCRIPTS UPON PAYMENT REQUEST
The editorial team of our journal has encountered a recurring challenge wherein authors withdraw their manuscripts upon receiving a payment request. This action is perceived as irresponsible, particularly when significant efforts have been invested by editors and reviewers during the publication process. Notably, our journal follows a practice of requesting payment details after a manuscript has been accepted for publication, with the fees policy clearly outlined on our website. Authors are also required to confirm their familiarity with journal policies before submitting a manuscript.
In response to this issue, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) provides valuable advice. It underscores the importance of unambiguous transparency about article fees. COPE suggests that journals should prominently display information about charges and their business model on the home page, about page, and at the top of the author instructions page, using bold text.
Authors withdrawing papers due to a change of mind is considered within their rights. However, COPE notes that if authors provide reasons related to multiple submissions or attempting to submit to a journal with a higher impact factor after peer review, such actions are deemed unethical. If a pattern emerges where the same author or authors repeatedly submit and withdraw papers at the payment stage, with the stated reason being an inability to pay, it may raise concerns about the ethical conduct of the submission process.
In such cases, COPE suggests that informing the institution associated with the authors may be a prudent step. This recommendation aligns with the commitment to maintaining ethical standards in the scholarly publishing process and ensuring responsible author behavior.
This article delves into the ethical considerations surrounding authors withdrawing manuscripts at the payment stage, providing insights and recommendations to navigate such situations in a transparent and principled manner.
