The Role of a Medical Writer
Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disease. It is a professional field with an international reputation. In modern societies, medical training takes place in a range of universities and hospitals across the globe.
Many of the fields that comprise medicine are highly specialized. For example, the discipline of pathology (the study of disease) includes such sub-fields as cytology, hematology, immunology, microbiology and tissue culture. Similarly, internal medicine has many subspecialties for specific organ systems or diseases and there are also several pediatric specialties.
Some of the most important developments in medicine have been in the areas of medical ethics, health policy and public health. The Hippocratic Oath, developed by the Greek physician Hippocrates and codified into law in some countries is a prime example of medical ethics. In terms of public health, the development of vaccines, antibiotics and other life-saving advances has been one of the most important contributions to modern medicine.
There are many careers within the medical field, and these are usually based on qualifications, aptitude, and preference. Nutritionists, for instance, are concerned with how diet and lifestyle affect health and disease. They often work with a nutritional therapist, who provides diet advice, and sometimes prescribes nutrients to patients to help treat or prevent health problems.
A medical writer writes copy that is used in a wide variety of media formats. Whether it is for a newspaper, magazine, website or a TV or radio advertisement, the aim of a medical writer is to communicate the most accurate and up-to-date medical information possible. The type of writing can vary from patient education leaflets to scientific journals and everything in between.
Having a strong grasp of medical terminology is vital for anyone considering a career in the field. This is because it is the linguistic foundation on which the entire healthcare system rests. Medical terminology is broken down into three parts: the prefix, the root and the suffix. The prefix indicates a location, direction, type, quality or quantity and the root is the basis of the word’s meaning.
For example, hematology is the study of blood, while cytology is the microscopic analysis of cells and histology is the study of tissues. In addition to these basic sciences, there are a number of applied disciplines that make up the field of medicine. For example, pharmacology is the medical science that deals with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration and monitoring of medicines for human health. Physiotherapy and allied health care is concerned with rehabilitation and the physical improvement of patients after injury or illness. And there is of course, epidemiology which is the study of disease distribution and control. The medical literature also includes social sciences such as history and philosophy of medicine. In some cases, this is intended to stimulate debate and discussion and in others it has a more direct utilitarian purpose. For example, a recent campaign by the over-the-counter pain killer Panadol encouraged people to donate their blood.
Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disease. It is a professional field with an international reputation. In modern societies, medical training takes place in a range of universities and hospitals across the globe. Many of the fields that comprise medicine are highly specialized. For example, the discipline of pathology (the study of disease) includes such sub-fields as cytology, hematology, immunology, microbiology and tissue culture. Similarly, internal medicine has many subspecialties for specific organ systems or diseases and there are also several pediatric specialties. Some of the most important developments in medicine have been in the areas of medical ethics, health policy and public health. The Hippocratic Oath, developed by the Greek physician Hippocrates and codified into law in some countries is a prime example of medical ethics. In terms of public health, the development of vaccines, antibiotics and other life-saving advances has been one of the most important contributions to modern medicine. There are many careers within the medical field, and these are usually based on qualifications, aptitude, and preference. Nutritionists, for instance, are concerned with how diet and lifestyle affect health and disease. They often work with a nutritional therapist, who provides diet advice, and sometimes prescribes nutrients to patients to help treat or prevent health problems. A medical writer writes copy that is used in a wide variety of media formats. Whether it is for a newspaper, magazine, website or a TV or radio advertisement, the aim of a medical writer is to communicate the most accurate and up-to-date medical information possible. The type of writing can vary from patient education leaflets to scientific journals and everything in between. Having a strong grasp of medical terminology is vital for anyone considering a career in the field. This is because it is the linguistic foundation on which the entire healthcare system rests. Medical terminology is broken down into three parts: the prefix, the root and the suffix. The prefix indicates a location, direction, type, quality or quantity and the root is the basis of the word’s meaning. For example, hematology is the study of blood, while cytology is the microscopic analysis of cells and histology is the study of tissues. In addition to these basic sciences, there are a number of applied disciplines that make up the field of medicine. For example, pharmacology is the medical science that deals with the discovery, development, evaluation, registration and monitoring of medicines for human health. Physiotherapy and allied health care is concerned with rehabilitation and the physical improvement of patients after injury or illness. And there is of course, epidemiology which is the study of disease distribution and control. The medical literature also includes social sciences such as history and philosophy of medicine. In some cases, this is intended to stimulate debate and discussion and in others it has a more direct utilitarian purpose. For example, a recent campaign by the over-the-counter pain killer Panadol encouraged people to donate their blood.