•     Authors may appeal a rejection once by emailing jmpcc@corvusmedpress.com within 30 days of the decision, with the subject ‘Appeal – manuscript number’.

•     The appeal must explain, point by point, why the decision should be reconsidered — for example, a factual error by a reviewer or evidence that a reviewer had a conflict of interest. Disagreement alone is not a basis for appeal.

•     The appeal is considered by the Editor-in-Chief or, if the Editor-in-Chief made the decision, by a senior editor not previously involved, who may seek advice from the original reviewers, new reviewers or board members.

•     A decision is sent within 30 days. The possible outcomes are: rejection upheld; invitation to submit a revised manuscript for further review; or, rarely, the original decision reversed.

•     The decision on appeal is final. The manuscript must not be submitted elsewhere while the appeal is under consideration.