What is Medical Ghostwriting?

What is medical ghostwriting? Medical ghostwriting is when a scientist places their name on research written by someone else. Often the writers are other scientists, but there is the questionable practice of when a writer is paid by a pharmaceutical company to develop the materials. In such cases, critics charge that these materials are marketing materials disguised as research material.

Question: How often does ghostwriting occur?
Answer: Studies suggest anywhere between 8% and 75% of the time.

Question: Do these practices hurt patients?
Answer: There have been many cases suggesting that such practices have hurt patients.

Question: Why do scientists allow use of their name.
Answer: Because publishing articles is important for members of the scientific community.

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