Medical Writing

Effective communication is the ultimate, but often daunting, purpose of any medical research or review. This book provides the practical information necessary to turn first drafts into concise, unambiguous text, without loss of individuality. Written by a consultant anaesthetist and an experienced medical editor, and also illustrated by an accomplished medical editor, all of whom are sympathetic to the problems and needs of medical writers, this book deals with the basic craft of writing, from choosing the best word or phrase to essential grammar. This expanded fourth edition includes many more words better replaced, and deals explicitly with the problems of writers whose first language is not English. Whether you are writing a simple clinical report or a thesis, supervising others, running a course on medical or scientific writing, or just want to develop your skills in written communication, this book is the ideal guide and reference. Clear, simple and precise, and illustrated with apt cartoons, this is an invaluable handbook.

Dr Neville W. Goodman is a retired consultant anaesthetist who formerly worked at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. The late Dr Martin B. Edwards was formerly Senior Research Fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons, England, and a freelance medical editor. Elise Langdon-Neuner is a freelance medical editor and editor emeritus of Medical Writing. Dr Andy Black is a retired Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia who formerly worked at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Review of previous edition: 'Read this book, and make sure your students do ...' British Journal of Psychiatry Review of previous edition: 'Anyone who aspires to medical or scientific authorship should read this book.' Journal of the Institution of Health Education Review of previous edition: '... whether you are an amateur or a well-published author this book will be useful. After reading it, I immediately wanted to redraft work I had written previously. But it is too late!' British Journal of Anaesthesia