“In a world of information overload, we prescribe clarity.”

Thank you for your interest in contributing to MEDiscuss. We are an evidence-based medical platform dedicated to bridging the gap between complex medical science and public understanding.

Our readers range from patients seeking trustworthy answers to junior doctors refreshing their clinical knowledge. As such, our standards for accuracy, clarity, and tone are rigorous.

Please review these guidelines carefully before submitting your manuscript.

1. Our Editorial Philosophy: The “C.L.E.A.R.” Method

Every article on MEDiscuss must meet these five criteria:

• C – Clinical Accuracy: Is the medical science 100% correct?
• L – Lucidity: Can a non-medical person understand this without a dictionary?
• E – Evidence-Based: Is this opinion, or is it supported by data?
• A – Actionable: Does the reader know what to do after reading?
• R – Respectful: Is the tone empathetic and non-judgmental?

2. Content Requirements

A. Topic Selection

We welcome submissions in:

• Clinical Medicine: Explanations of diseases, diagnostics, and treatments.
• Public Health: Preventive care, lifestyle medicine, and health policy.
• Medical Education: Clinical pearls, examination techniques, and student guides.
• Debunking: Correcting common medical myths with science.

B. Evidence & Citations (Strict Policy)

• Hyperlinks: You must hyperlink claims to reputable sources (e.g., PubMed, CDC, WHO, Major Clinical Guidelines).
• Recency: Medical citations should ideally be from the last 5 years (post-2020), unless referencing a historical landmark study.
• No Circular Referencing: Do not cite news articles (e.g., CNN, BBC) as medical evidence. Cite the primary study they are talking about.

C. Tone & Style

• Voice: Professional yet conversational. Imagine explaining a diagnosis to an intelligent patient in your clinic.
• Jargon: Avoid it. If you must use a medical term (e.g., “Dyspnea”), immediately define it (“shortness of breath”).
• POV: Use “We” or “You” to engage the reader. Avoid passive voice (e.g., Instead of “It was observed that…”, use “Studies show…”).

3. Formatting Guidelines

• Word Count: 800 – 1,500 words. (Longer pieces may be split into a series).
• Headings: Use H2 and H3 subheadings to break up text. No wall of text.
• Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short (3-4 sentences maximum).
• Bullet Points: Use them liberally for lists, symptoms, or steps.

4. The “Red Lines” (What We Reject)

Submissions containing the following will be immediately rejected:

1. Plagiarism: Any content with >10% similarity to existing text.
2. AI-Generated Slop: We use AI as a tool, but we do not publish raw ChatGPT output. If you use AI for drafting, you must verify every fact and rewrite it in your own voice.
3. Absolute Claims: Avoid words like “Miracle,” “Cure-all,” or “Guaranteed.” Medicine is about probability, not certainty.
4. Hidden Marketing: We do not accept articles written solely to sell a supplement, device, or service.

5. Submission Checklist

Before emailing your draft, please ensure:

• [ ] You have included a short Author Bio (50 words) with your credentials (MD, MBBS, PhD, etc.) and current affiliation.
• [ ] You have a high-resolution headshot photo.
• [ ] All medical claims have a corresponding citation/link.
• [ ] You have run a spell-check (US or UK English is fine, but be consistent).

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