Medical writing

For a long time, we have heard talk of medical writing without however having any tangible knowledge of which context it tends to refer and be addressed to . “A medical writer works together with doctors, scientists, and other role players with a specific expertise in the field, providing an effective and clear description of the  results of a research, the directions for use of a given product, or some other type of medical information. The medical writer ensures that written documents comply with regulatory requirements, instructions laid down by scientific journals, or other guidelines relating to content, format and style”. *

Medical writing has to adhere to strict and exact style rules. Think for instance of a scientific publication: An article might be turned down not only due to problems concerning the research it is founded upon, but even on grounds associated with the way it is presented or drafted. Some of the most frequent examples belonging to the latter category of problems  include the following:

• the drafting of the manuscript is of poor quality;

• the author has failed to follow the instructions laid down for its drafting;

• the terminology used in it is excessively technical;

• the document exceeds the maximum number of  words which is contemplated by the journal where it is meant to be published, or, alternatively

• it has been drawn up in a superficial way (as it contains for instance either spelling or grammatical errors). If an author has failed to devote the suitable degree of attention to the drafting and/or presentation of the manuscript, the editor of the journal might legitimately suspect that he has likewise carried out the clinical study on which the relevant document has been based with equal carelessness.

All the aforesaid problems can be avoided by entrusting the document to a professional medical writer. The truth, in fact, is that an, experienced medical writer is acquainted with style manuals and the instructions applicable to the submission of scientific manuscripts. We shall later observe some examples that are taken from AMA Manual of Style: Excerpts. Iverson C, Christiansen S, Flanagin A, et al, or from  AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors.  10th ed.  New York, NY:  Oxford University Press; 2007, and which concern the correct and preferred use of common words and phrases:

“11.1 Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases

cadaver, donor: When describing the source of human organs and tissues used for transplantation, avoid cadaver (or dead body). Correct usage is deceased donor (or recovered from deceased organ and tissue donors).

When referring to a deceased person whose body is to be used for anatomical dissection, cadaver is correct (cadaveric as adjective).

chief complaint, chief concern: Chief complaint has been traditionally used by physicians when taking a patient’s history. However, chief concern may be a better description because complaint may be construed as pejorative and confrontational.

glycated hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin: The preferred term is glycated  hemoglobin. Glycohemoglobin is also acceptable (David E. Bruns, MD, e-mail communication, May 17, 2006). See also 15.10.2, Nomenclature, Molecular Medicine, Molecular Terms: Considerations and Examples.

survivor, victim: In scientific publications, use of the word victim—when describing persons who survive physical, domestic, sexual, or psychological violence or a natural disaster—should be avoided. Similarly, avoid labeling (and thus equating) people with a disability or disease as victims (eg, AIDS victim, stroke victim; see 11.10.4, Inclusive Language, Disabilities).

Victim may imply a state of helplessness. Characterizing a person who has experienced abuse or other violence as a victim perpetuates the stereotype of a passive person who cannot recover from the effects of the malady. In such cases survivor may be more appropriate (eg, rape survivor, tsunami survivor, survivor of torture).

If a person who experienced such trauma has died, referring to him or her as victim may be appropriate (victim of a land mine explosion). Victim may also be used in the vernacular (victim of his own success).”

The following might be additional examples of difficulties confronting an investigator:

• Which one is the correct expression, “press release” or rather “news release”?

• When should “percent” be used, and when should he opt instead for “percentage”?

• In those cases where a percentage is associated with a drug, should it preface the name of the pharmaceutical drug name or follow it?

• Should the comma be used after the word because or after forms which derive from the verb include?

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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_writing