Writing About Medical Topics
Medical is a field that covers many different areas of human health, illness and treatment. There are several branches of medicine, including anatomy, pharmacology and pathology. Each of these has its own subfields such as cytology and histology, which focus on microscopic structures, biochemistry, which studies the chemical processes in living organisms, and biomechanics, which uses the methods of physics to study biological systems. The discipline of medicine also includes medical education and training, as well as clinical research and diagnosis. Medical doctors are trained in a variety of specialties, and most countries require that medical school graduates complete at least three years of residency. This is in contrast to surgical training, which usually lasts one or two years.
A wide range of tools and technologies are used to support medical practice and scientific investigation, including diagnostics, devices and medicines. These are often based on modern biotechnology and molecular biology techniques, which are revolutionizing the way medical disease is diagnosed and treated. These developments are influenced by genetics and evolution, as scientists discover causative genes for monogenic genetic disorders, and molecular biology methods enable drugs to be targeted directly at physiological processes with minimal side-effects.
When writing about a medical subject, it is important to remain neutral and avoid using offensive language or taking sides in any controversy that may arise. Controversial subjects can make for interesting reading, but an article that veers into a political or angry tone will quickly turn off the reader. Medical writers should also be aware that if they use humor in their articles, it is often misinterpreted and can be offensive to some groups of people.
A primary care physician (general practitioner, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) typically provides the first point of contact for patients seeking medical attention or advice. Providing primary care involves a process called differential diagnosis, where the physician analyses all the available information on a patient, including symptoms, history of the problem, family health history, physical examination and laboratory or imaging findings. This analysis leads to a list of possible diagnoses, each of which must be confirmed by further testing or specialist consultation.
Medical is a field that covers many different areas of human health, illness and treatment. There are several branches of medicine, including anatomy, pharmacology and pathology. Each of these has its own subfields such as cytology and histology, which focus on microscopic structures, biochemistry, which studies the chemical processes in living organisms, and biomechanics, which uses the methods of physics to study biological systems. The discipline of medicine also includes medical education and training, as well as clinical research and diagnosis. Medical doctors are trained in a variety of specialties, and most countries require that medical school graduates complete at least three years of residency. This is in contrast to surgical training, which usually lasts one or two years. A wide range of tools and technologies are used to support medical practice and scientific investigation, including diagnostics, devices and medicines. These are often based on modern biotechnology and molecular biology techniques, which are revolutionizing the way medical disease is diagnosed and treated. These developments are influenced by genetics and evolution, as scientists discover causative genes for monogenic genetic disorders, and molecular biology methods enable drugs to be targeted directly at physiological processes with minimal side-effects. When writing about a medical subject, it is important to remain neutral and avoid using offensive language or taking sides in any controversy that may arise. Controversial subjects can make for interesting reading, but an article that veers into a political or angry tone will quickly turn off the reader. Medical writers should also be aware that if they use humor in their articles, it is often misinterpreted and can be offensive to some groups of people. A primary care physician (general practitioner, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) typically provides the first point of contact for patients seeking medical attention or advice. Providing primary care involves a process called differential diagnosis, where the physician analyses all the available information on a patient, including symptoms, history of the problem, family health history, physical examination and laboratory or imaging findings. This analysis leads to a list of possible diagnoses, each of which must be confirmed by further testing or specialist consultation.