Working with authors to develop high-quality, ethical clinical manuscripts: Guidance for the professional medical writer

Abstract

One measure of career success for clinical researchers is reporting their findings in a peer-reviewed journal. Writing a clinical manuscript that has impact and relevance to their intended audience is crucial for publication success. However, clinicians and scientists whose native language is not English may find it challenging to effectively communicate the clinical relevance of their research and they may seek help from a professional medical writer. In this article, we focus on what makes a high-quality clinical manuscript and some of the ethical issues that must be considered. Professional medical writers will benefit from understanding and applying these concepts as they assist authors in preparing a well-structured, ethically sound, and highly readable manuscript that clearly expresses the clinical relevance of their findings. Using these approaches, medical writers and their clients can be confident that the final manuscript meets the quality expectations and ethical standards of international Engl...