Statement [from The Lancet] in response to recent US executive orders (Feb 10, 2025)

"In February 2025, US President Donald J Trump issued an executive order on the use of language related to sex and gender in all documents and communications. In addition, federally funded employees (including researchers) have faced restrictions on their communications and published documents.

The Lancet Group will be making no changes to our editorial policies regarding withdrawal, authorship change, inclusive language, or retraction. Ahead of publication, the withdrawal of submitted papers and authorship changes will only generally be considered if the written agreement of all authors is received. The Lancet Group will continue to recommend the use of inclusive language, accepting authors’ ultimate choice of terminology when it is scientifically accurate and respectful, and will continue to encourage authors to follow the Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) reporting guidelines. Published papers will only be corrected or retracted when they contain factual errors or if scientific misconduct has taken place.

These policies are in line with recently issued guidance from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors."