Do I Need Permission? Understanding “Fair Use” in Medical Communication

Copyright law is complicated, and we’re not legal experts.

However, one of the most important aspects of copyright law as it pertains to medical communicators is called “fair use.”

In general, copyright protects the intellectual property of creators like artists and authors, but there is an important exception made when material is used for educational purposes or for other reasons that distinguish it from a profit-generating use.

Right and Wrong: Medical Communication Ethics

Ethical behavior is important in any profession. 

What Are the Medical Writing Skills You Need to Succeed?

People take different paths in their journeys to become medical writers. Some are scientists and clinicians who come to the field with medical or scientific backgrounds. Others are professional writers who want to leverage their background in communications to write about science and medicine. 

Tables and Graphs Are Medical Communicators’ Best Friends

Imagine a toolbox without a hammer. 

Medical communicators have toolboxes too. Visuals, such as tables and graphs, belong in that toolbox. We are telling scientific stories, and data are important elements in many of those stories.

Numbers Matter: Essentials of Medical Statistics

How are you with numbers?

It’s important for all medical communicators to master the essentials of medical statistics. Medical writers are not the ones carrying out statistical tests or procedures, but they may be responsible for interpreting and reporting statistics.

Certificate vs Certification: Which Path Is Right for You?

When people are looking to establish or further a career as a medical writer, they often have questions about the differences between earning a certificate in medical writing and certification, which means earning the Medical Writer Certified (MWC®) credential.