Fundamentals of Writing and Research Ethics

What is ethical—and what is not—in medical writing and editing? While the medical editor or writer may not have ultimate responsibility for a published article or other work, they are responsible for understanding such issues as authorship, acknowledgement, financial disclosures, conflicts of interest, "salami science," and how to flag ethical concerns and talk about them with authors or supervisors.

This course aims to produce medical editors and writers who have reviewed the fundamentals of writing and research ethics and are attuned to "flag" them with peers and other stakeholders when they arise in daily practice. Students are not expected to exit the course with a clear answer to every ethical question in writing and research, but to know where to seek answers, how to raise questions about ethical issues, and how to participate in the ongoing discussion about ethics in medical research and publication. 

At the end of this course, you should be more prepared to trust the instincts that compel you to ask questions and have a framework for reviewing, understanding, and problem-solving ethical concerns in medical writing and editing.