Telling It Like It Is: Informed Consent in Health Care

By Charlotte Crowder, MPH, ELS, Freelance Medical Writer and Editor

Use these tips to help medical writers create plain language, ethically sound informed consent documents with easy-to-read formats for participants in investigative clinical trials.

Helping Patients Make Informed Choices by Writing Decision Aids

This blog is based on content presented by Kathi Whitman, MA, Senior Medical Writer/Project Manager, Intermountain Healthcare, at the AMWA Medical Writing & Communication Conference and published in AMWA Journal v 31 n 4. 

Making medical decisions can be challenging and frustrating. So many options and possible treatments exist, and doctors aren’t supposed to tell patients what to do.

One of the more direct applications of medical writing skills is helping patients to make informed choices about their health care. 

3 Tips for Success in Medical Journalism

As a medical writer, chances are high that you’ve crafted a document or two without your byline attached. After all, much of the content medical writers create doesn’t require authorship. If you’re interested in advancing your career and seeing your name in print, consider medical journalism. Nurturing relationships with publications that focus on health and well-being for a public audience is also a smart move for freelance medical writers. Having bylined publications can fortify your position as an expert in medical communication.

5 Tips for Equity and Inclusion in Medical Writing and Editing

Talking so everyone can hear

We have heard the words “equity” and “inclusion” many times in recent months. But we may not all have connected them with our work as writers and editors in health, medicine, and science. How can medical communicators help create a more equitable, inclusive world?

As writers and editors, we can play a role in giving all people the opportunity to understand and use health information so that they can participate in clinical trials, understand their health care providers’ instructions, and take other actions that help reduce and eradicate social, economic, and health disparities.

How To Become a Medical Copywriter

The medical communication field is well established and growing rapidly. From regulatory writing to medical copywriting, many paths, employers, and projects await newcomers to the profession. Whether you're a new graduate, a veteran marketing writer, or even a scientist interested in expanding your skill set, medical copywriting could be a lucrative niche.

Health Communication Strategies to Connect with a Public Audience

Amid ongoing global health issues and a shifting economy, many experienced medical writers recognize an opportunity to expand their skill sets. For writers interested in moving into health communication, it is crucial to understand the difference between writing for a professional audience and communicating health information to the general public.