Late-stage rejection by BMC Emergency Medicine - anyone with similar experiences?
Submitted a qualitative paper. Got two reviews suggesting major revision. Did point-by-point response and addressed all issues throughly.
Reviewer 1 was very positive in second review and recommended publication. Reviewer 2 (R2) suddenly brought up all sorts of aspects which he/she had not mentioned at all in the first review and used this to argue against publication. For example, aspects that were framed as "suggestions for improvement and not major methodological concerns" in the first round were presented as major flaws which warrant rejection in the second round. Journal went with R2s line and rejected the manuscript.
I have reviewed several papers myself and find it a really unprofessional course of action. Major flaws should be brought up in the first round, and not at the last minute. I am appealing. Anyone with similar experiences?