The Complete Guide to Medical Writing

This multiauthored work is from the Pharmaceutical Press (PhP), the publishing arm of the “Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain founded in 1841. The Society is the regulatory and professional body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. Its primary objective is to lead, regulate and develop the pharmacy profession” [1]. The book is indeed complete and speaks to novice writers or students who may be new to the health professions, as well as knowledgeable clinicians and researchers who need help compiling examination questions, writing press releases, or adding publications to their resumes. The editor is clinical editor for BMJ Clinical Evidence, and the foreword is written by Julia Forjanic Klapproth, vice president of the European Medical Writers Association. Most of the more than twenty authors work in Britain, three are from Malta, one is Australian, and, finally, there is the Plain English Campaign. Nearly all are trained in some aspect of pharmaceutics, though they cover a wide range of topics. One is a qualified librarian. The authority of the PhP and the wide range of expertise and experience among the authors give the reader confidence. The Complete Guide does not just discuss how to write. It describes every aspect of the medical literature and publishing world. The chapters are collected into six sections that discuss medical writing essentials, reviews and reports, medical journalism and mass media, medical writing in education, medical writing for medical professionals, and medical publishing. It appeals to medical novices who are called on to write but need a better understanding of medicine itself, as well as seasoned clinicians, academics, and researchers who need a better, deeper understanding of the types of writing. The book is designed to be used as a textbook. Chapters provide many summaries, bulleted lists of major points, questions and answers, and other material such as “Further Reading,” “Useful Resources,” “Glossary,” and “Useful Websites.” “Writing” is used loosely to include live presentations, radio programs, slide shows, advertising and posters, and online research. Much of the advice is very practical (how to print and bind a thesis), and some is amusing (asking grandma to write down her chocolate cake recipe), but the book is packed with facts and examples. Some of the “typical” document examples are British, but this does not detract from its usefulness. Besides a thorough back-of-the-book index, the book has useful appendixes of “Common Medical Abbreviations,” “Measurements,” “Normal Values for Common Laboratory Tests,” “Proof Correctional Marks,” and “A to Z of Medical Terms in Plain English.” This last contains many British spellings, but most readers should not find this a problem, especially because British journals and websites are widely read and used, and the few Greek diphthongs (oedema, gynaecology) are easily grasped. The British origin of the publication, however, may be its only drawback. This will depend on how much the reader needs certain parts of the book. Discussion of ethics, copyright, style, appropriateness of audience, organization of content, various forums for one's efforts—all of these are universal and provide much interesting and useful background. However, if one is preparing a news item for release to the press, the sources on page 423 are of little use outside the United Kingdom. This may be minor compared to the otherwise excellent “Checklist for Writing Press Releases” (p. 186) and the thorough discussion of “Principles of Good Advertising” that begin chapter 12 (pp. 176–). This reviewer expected considerable discussion of the professional literature, writing of theses, academic material, and similar and indeed was not disappointed. Highlights from the book, which rather surprised this reviewer in their novelty, included “Differences in Writing for Magazines and Newspapers” and “Important Points to Consider when Writing for the Lay Press” (pp. 156–) and “The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 2005” and “Writing Style for Websites” (pp. 416–). Anyone involved in the health professions, whether readers or writers, will appreciate and enjoy this book. While not as much fun as Eats, Shoots and Leaves [2], it is easier to navigate than the excellent reference, The Chicago Manual of Style [3], and is a joy to read by any lover of language and its many applications.