What to do if you suspect that there is an ethical problem in a received manuscript?

The reviewer (or editor) communicates concern about a possible ethical problem in the manuscript. For example, lack of approval from the ethics committee, or concerns about patient consent, patient protection, or animal experiments.

So:

  1. Thank the reviewer and let them know that you plan to investigate
  2. The author provides the relevant details. There can be two answers:
  3. Satisfactory response
  • Apologize and continue with the review process
  1. No response or unsatisfactory response
  • Inform the author that the review process is suspended until the case is resolved
  • Communicate your concern to the author's center or the person responsible for the center's research standards. From here two actions or solutions are derived:
  1. The problem is resolved satisfactorily, then:
  • Inform the reviewer of the results of the case
  1. No response or unsatisfactory response, then:
  • Contact the center every 3-6 months to try to complete your research.

Yeah:

  1. a) The problem is solved satisfactorily, then:
  • Inform the reviewer of the results of the case
  1. b) No response or unsatisfactory response
  • Refer the case to other competent authorities
  • Inform the reviewer of the results of the case