The role of professional medical writers in data disclosure
Adam Jacobs, Dianthus Medical Limited

Professional medical writers have an important role to play in reporting the results of clinical trials in peer-reviewed journals. However, there are a number of potential pitfalls when professional medical writers are involved, and it is important to manage the process properly to ensure that publications are produced in an ethically responsible manner. Many recent guidelines give good advice here, and I shall review some of the most relevant. Also, in addition to the self-evident benefits of using medical writers in speeding up publications, evidence is now emerging that professional medical writers may also improve the quality of publications.