Request to remove an author after

  • Clarify the reason for the change of authorship (There are three possibilities)

First:

  • The author (s) provide acceptable reasons for the change
  • Check that all authors agree to the change (including the excluded author)
  • Post the fix

Second:

  • The author (s) allege fraud or misconduct
  • See guidance on fabricated data

Third:

  • The authors disagree in their interpretation of the data

So:

Suggest the author (s) state their point of view in a letter, clarify that you will give the other authors the opportunity to respond and publish both letters, if appropriate (e.g. ., if they are of appropriate length and without defamation). For it:

  1. The author (s) write a letter

- Contact the other authors and explain what is happening. But:

  • If the other authors send a response, both letters will be published
  • The other authors do not wish to respond, so the letter with the minority point of view will be published
  1. The author (s) do not agree to write the letter (or write an unpublishable letter) so if the author insists on name removal and the other authors agree, then you should consider publishing a correction