Ethics and ethical issues in medical writing

Abstract

Background: Medical writing is an important aspect of healthcare communication because it makes it easier to share clinical information and research findings. Medical writing is essential when it comes to conveying clinical and scientific knowledge. But the field is facing more and more ethical issues that might compromise public confidence and scientific integrity. For medical literature to be transparent, accurate, and trustworthy, ethical norms must be upheld.

Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the basic principles of ethics and prevalent ethical issues in medical writing, emphasizing the significance of maintaining accuracy, accountability, and transparency.

Methodology: A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar databases, then thoroughly reviewed the articles, focusing on those published in the last 10 years. Ethical issues, including use of AI, plagiarism, ghostwriting, and disputes over authorship, data falsification, and conflicts of interest, were analyzed.

Conclusion: Maintaining the integrity of scientific papers and safeguarding patient welfare depend heavily on ethical medical writing. Preventing misbehavior and ensuring responsible communication in medical literature requires awareness, adherence to ethical principles, and appropriate training for researchers and authors.

Keywords: Authorship; Ethics; Ghostwriting; Medical writing; Plagiarism; Publication ethics; Scientific integrity

Citation: Mubashar H. . Anaesth. pain intensive care 2026;30(3):365-369. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v30i3.3176

Received: May 09, 2025; Revised: October 26, 2025; Accepted: January 01, 2026