Editorial standards

Our reporting should make healthcare developments easier to understand and easier to check. These standards guide what we publish.

Sources and scope

We link to original evidence where possible and explain what it establishes. Policy announcements, research studies, guidance and company claims are different kinds of evidence. Geography, relevant dates and important limitations belong beside the story.

Authorship and review

Articles name their author. An editor checks sources, quotations and interpretation before publication. Clinical interpretation or patient-care recommendations require a qualified reviewer. We credit expert review only when it occurred.

Independence and disclosures

We distinguish facts from analysis and opinion. Relevant commercial interests are disclosed with the article. Sponsored coverage must be clearly labeled and meet the same evidence standards. Read about our publisher and ownership.

Corrections and updates

Material corrections explain what changed and when. We preserve the original publication date and identify substantive updates. We do not refresh dates to make old reporting appear new.

Report a possible error with the article link and the specific claim or passage. Include an original source when available.

Links, funding and outside influence

Links provide evidence and useful context. We do not buy or sell ranking links, accept paid source insertions or exchange favourable coverage for links.

Sponsorship, gifts and relevant author interests must be disclosed. Paid or affiliate links, if introduced, must be clearly identified. Advertisers cannot buy a factual conclusion or remove a justified correction.

Attribution, privacy and reporting about people

We attribute quotations and check rights before reproducing text or images.

Reporting involving patients, children, sensitive records or serious allegations requires additional editorial assessment. People facing a significant allegation should normally have an opportunity to respond; exceptions need a documented justification.

Patient-facing information

Patient guides use clear language and explicit geographic and practical scope. They do not establish that an individual service, insurance arrangement or treatment is appropriate for a particular person.