How to write for medical and scientific journals

Prof Ng with his and Prof Peh’s book, which came about because ‘both of us have interest in writing and mentoring people to write’. Photo: The Star/Raymond Ooi

During our recent interview, Prof Dr Ng Kwan Hoong wryly points out the last chapter of his coauthored book, Effective Medical Writing: The Write Way To Get Published, entitled “Publication Ethics And Scientific Misconduct”, and observes that the book, launched in June, is timely in light of the recent Universiti Malaya (UM) probe that concluded four UM scientists had falsified research data.

Prof Ng, himself a professor of medical physics with UM’s Faculty of Medicine, feels that the topic, along with general scientific writing skills, is not one that is taken seriously by medical students, as it is not an exam subject.