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:

A. Satisfactory response

• Apologize and continue with the review process

B. 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

2. No response or unsatisfactory response, then:

• Contact the center every 3-6 months to try to complete your research.

If:

a) The problem is solved satisfactorily, then:

• Inform the reviewer of the results of the case.

b) No response or unsatisfactory response

• Refer the case to other competent authorities
• Inform the reviewer of the results of the case