ETHICAL ASPECTS

IN
SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL WRITING (SMW)

Djamhoer Martaadisoebrata
Dep of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Fac of Med Unpad
 ATTRIBUTE OF
SCHOLARS/ACADEMICIANS :
Capable to :
 Absorb/Acquire New Sciences
 Convey their knowledge verbally or
in writing, such as SCIENTIFITIC
MEDICAL WRITING
(SMW)
 SMW ???
Any ideas or concepts related to
Medical Science and
Technology, expressed in
writing
 MATERIAL CONTENT
Aspects Diseases
CVD GYN NUTR Env Ht
Epid

Clinic

Lab/Img

Biomol
 TYPES OF SMW
 Popular Science
 Litelature Study
 Case Report
 RESEARCH STUDY
 Conceptual Paper
 Popular Science
 Author : Individual/Institution
 Content : Any aspects in health
 Target : General Population
(Layman)
 Objectives : To provoke awareness
 Forum : Mass media
 Format : Informal
 Literature Study
 Authors : Students/Faculty
Members
 Content : Devp. in Health Sci/Tec
 Target : Personal/Civ Academic
 Objectives : Research prep/Inform
 Forum : Medical/Health Journal
 Format : Formal
 Case Report
 Authors : Clinicians

 Content : Rare/Deviate Cases

 Target : Colleagues

 Objectives : Share of Experiences

 Forum : Medical/Health Journal

 Format : Formal
 Research Study
 Authors : Undgrad/Grad/Postgrad
Researchers
 Contents : Background, design,
data, analysis,conclussion or
IMRAD
 Target : Academician/Policy
Makers
  Objecitives : Socialization of
Results/Advocacy
 Forum : Medical/Health Journals
or Institutions.
 Format : Formal

 Types : Articles, Minithesis, Thesis,

Dissertation.
 Conceptual Papers
 Authors : Senior Lecturers

 Content : New ideas in health

service or education arraignment
 Target : Academician/Health
policy makers
 Objectives : Stimulation for
improvement
 Forum : University, Inauguration
as Professor, Congress, as Keynote
Speakers, Medical/Health Journal
 Format : Formal/Informal
Ethical Aspects in Scientific Medical
Writing (SMW)

 Every study must be completed

with SMW
 It is ethically unacceptable not to
publish its results
 Scientific writers must be honest
with noble intention
 No law against dishonest writer,
only ethical sanction can be
applied, except maybe in
Plagiarism
Standard Structures of SMW

 Title
1. Name of author(s)
 Summary Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion and conclusion
 Acknowledgement
 References
 General Ethical Issues

 One article, one publication

 Publishing one article in two
different journals, not permissible
 Permission must be obtained from
the related journal, if another
publication is wanted
 Continued

 For congress’s articles, permission

must be obtained from committee
 It is unethical to make small series
of articles from one whole article
 Other investigators contributing
some data, should be in included in
preparation of paper
 Permission should asked before
using other people’s data
 Special Issues
#Related to each element of standard
structure

Title
 Must be precise, logic and accurate
 Bombastic title should be avoided
 Must not be part of propaganda or
promotion
 No personal interest
 Must have some bearing to the study’s
issues
 Name of author(s)

 Author(s) : only persons actively involved

 Author(s) must be aware of their
involvement, and will be held responsible
for the content and form of article
 Sequence of author(s)’s name must be
related to their role
 Candidate researcher could act as main
author, with his senior as co-author
MAIN ISSUES IN SMW

1. Technical know how

2. HONESTY
 REFERENCES

1. Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, volume 2,

1992.
2. World Medical Association Declaration of
Helsinki, 48th General Assembly, Rep. of
South Africa, 1996.
3. International Ethical Guidelines for
Biomedical Research Involving Human
Subjects, CIOMC/WHO Geneva, 1993.
4. Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice in
Indonesia, BPOM, Dep Kes. 2000.
5. Pedoman Etik Penelitian Kedokteran
Indonesia, 1982.