Complaints Handling Policy

Types of Complaints

JPDMHD welcomes complaints from any party — authors, reviewers, readers, or institutions — regarding:

  • The journal's editorial policies or procedures
  • The conduct of editors, reviewers, or authors
  • The content of published articles (including concerns about integrity)
  • Turnaround times, communication, or service quality

How to Submit a Complaint

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief:

Dr. Ali Abdul Jabbar Mohammed

Email: editor.jpdmhd@gmail.com

Subject line: 'Formal Complaint — [brief description]'

Anonymous complaints will be considered if the complainant has reasonable concerns about confidentiality, though this may limit the journal's ability to investigate fully.

Complaints Procedure

Step 1 — Acknowledgement: The editor will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 5 business days.

Step 2 — Assessment: The editor will assess whether the complaint is within scope and gather relevant documentation.

Step 3 — Investigation: For complaints involving potential misconduct, the journal will follow the relevant COPE flowchart (publicationethics.org/flowcharts). For service-related complaints, the editor will investigate and respond.

Step 4 — Decision: A formal written response will be issued within 30 business days. For complex cases, the complainant will be updated at least every 30 days.

Step 5 — Escalation: If the complainant is unsatisfied with the outcome, they may refer the matter to the publisher (HM Publishers) or to COPE (publicationethics.org).

Confidentiality

All complaints will be handled in confidence. The identity of the complainant will not be disclosed to the subject of the complaint without the complainant's consent, unless required by law.