medical essay writing

10 Successful Medical School Essays

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-- Accepted to: Harvard Medical School GPA: 4.0 MCAT: 522

Sponsored by A ccepted.com : Great stats don’t assure acceptance to elite medical schools. The personal statement, most meaningful activities, activity descriptions, secondaries and interviews can determine acceptance or rejection. Since 1994, Accepted.com has guided medical applicants just like you to present compelling medical school applications. Get Accepted !

I started writing in 8th grade when a friend showed me her poetry about self-discovery and finding a voice. I was captivated by the way she used language to bring her experiences to life. We began writing together in our free time, trying to better understand ourselves by putting a pen to paper and attempting to paint a picture with words. I felt my style shift over time as I grappled with challenges that seemed to defy language. My poems became unstructured narratives, where I would use stories of events happening around me to convey my thoughts and emotions. In one of my earliest pieces, I wrote about a local boy’s suicide to try to better understand my visceral response. I discussed my frustration with the teenage social hierarchy, reflecting upon my social interactions while exploring the harms of peer pressure.

In college, as I continued to experiment with this narrative form, I discovered medical narratives. I have read everything from Manheimer’s Bellevue to Gawande’s Checklist and from Nuland’s observations about the way we die, to Kalanithi’s struggle with his own decline. I even experimented with this approach recently, writing a piece about my grandfather’s emphysema. Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love. I have augmented these narrative excursions with a clinical bioethics internship. In working with an interdisciplinary team of ethics consultants, I have learned by doing by participating in care team meetings, synthesizing discussions and paths forward in patient charts, and contributing to an ongoing legislative debate addressing the challenges of end of life care. I have also seen the ways ineffective intra-team communication and inter-personal conflicts of beliefs can compromise patient care.

Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love.

By assessing these difficult situations from all relevant perspectives and working to integrate the knowledge I’ve gained from exploring narratives, I have begun to reflect upon the impact the humanities can have on medical care. In a world that has become increasingly data driven, where patients can so easily devolve into lists of numbers and be forced into algorithmic boxes in search of an exact diagnosis, my synergistic narrative and bioethical backgrounds have taught me the importance of considering the many dimensions of the human condition. I am driven to become a physician who deeply considers a patient’s goal of care and goals of life. I want to learn to build and lead patient care teams that are oriented toward fulfilling these goals, creating an environment where family and clinician conflict can be addressed efficiently and respectfully. Above all, I look forward to using these approaches to keep the person beneath my patients in focus at each stage of my medical training, as I begin the task of translating complex basic science into excellent clinical care.

In her essay for medical school, Morgan pitches herself as a future physician with an interdisciplinary approach, given her appreciation of how the humanities can enable her to better understand her patients. Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient’s humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

This narrative distinguishes Morgan as a candidate for medical school effectively, as she provides specific examples of how her passions intersect with medicine. She first discusses how she used poetry to process her emotional response to a local boy’s suicide and ties in concern about teenage mental health. Then, she discusses more philosophical questions she encountered through reading medical narratives, which demonstrates her direct interest in applying writing and the humanities to medicine. By making the connection from this larger theme to her own reflections on her grandfather, Morgan provides a personal insight that will give an admissions officer a window into her character. This demonstrates her empathy for her future patients and commitment to their care.

Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient's humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

Furthermore, it is important to note that Morgan’s essay does not repeat anything in-depth that would otherwise be on her resume. She makes a reference to her work in care team meetings through a clinical bioethics internship, but does not focus on this because there are other places on her application where this internship can be discussed. Instead, she offers a more reflection-based perspective on the internship that goes more in-depth than a resume or CV could. This enables her to explain the reasons for interdisciplinary approach to medicine with tangible examples that range from personal to professional experiences — an approach that presents her as a well-rounded candidate for medical school.

Disclaimer: With exception of the removal of identifying details, essays are reproduced as originally submitted in applications; any errors in submissions are maintained to preserve the integrity of the piece. The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this article.

-- Accepted To: A medical school in New Jersey with a 3% acceptance rate. GPA: 3.80 MCAT: 502 and 504

Sponsored by E fiie Consulting Group : “ EFIIE ” boasts 100% match rate for all premedical and predental registered students. Not all students are accepted unto their pre-health student roster. Considered the most elite in the industry and assists from start to end – premed to residency. EFIIE is a one-stop-full-service education firm.

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The tribulations I've overcome in my life have manifested in the compassion, curiosity, and courage that is embedded in my personality. Even a horrific mishap in my life has not changed my core beliefs and has only added fuel to my intense desire to become a doctor. My extensive service at an animal hospital, a harrowing personal experience, and volunteering as an EMT have increased my appreciation and admiration for the medical field.

At thirteen, I accompanied my father to the Park Home Animal Hospital with our eleven-year-old dog, Brendan. He was experiencing severe pain due to an osteosarcoma, which ultimately led to the difficult decision to put him to sleep. That experience brought to light many questions regarding the idea of what constitutes a "quality of life" for an animal and what importance "dignity" plays to an animal and how that differs from owner to owner and pet to pet. Noting my curiosity and my relative maturity in the matter, the owner of the animal hospital invited me to shadow the professional staff. Ten years later, I am still part of the team, having made the transition from volunteer to veterinarian technician. Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

As my appreciation for medical professionals continued to grow, a horrible accident created an indelible moment in my life. It was a warm summer day as I jumped onto a small boat captained by my grandfather. He was on his way to refill the boat's gas tank at the local marina, and as he pulled into the dock, I proceeded to make a dire mistake. As the line was thrown from the dock, I attempted to cleat the bowline prematurely, and some of the most intense pain I've ever felt in my life ensued.

Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

"Call 911!" I screamed, half-dazed as I witnessed blood gushing out of my open wounds, splashing onto the white fiberglass deck of the boat, forming a small puddle beneath my feet. I was instructed to raise my hand to reduce the bleeding, while someone wrapped an icy towel around the wound. The EMTs arrived shortly after and quickly drove me to an open field a short distance away, where a helicopter seemed to instantaneously appear.

The medevac landed on the roof of Stony Brook Hospital before I was expeditiously wheeled into the operating room for a seven-hour surgery to reattach my severed fingers. The distal phalanges of my 3rd and 4th fingers on my left hand had been torn off by the rope tightening on the cleat. I distinctly remember the chill from the cold metal table, the bright lights of the OR, and multiple doctors and nurses scurrying around. The skill and knowledge required to execute multiple skin graft surgeries were impressive and eye-opening. My shortened fingers often raise questions by others; however, they do not impair my self-confidence or physical abilities. The positive outcome of this trial was the realization of my intense desire to become a medical professional.

Despite being the patient, I was extremely impressed with the dedication, competence, and cohesiveness of the medical team. I felt proud to be a critical member of such a skilled group. To this day, I still cannot explain the dichotomy of experiencing being the patient, and concurrently one on the professional team, committed to saving the patient. Certainly, this experience was a defining part of my life and one of the key contributors to why I became an EMT and a volunteer member of the Sample Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The startling ring of the pager, whether it is to respond to an inebriated alcoholic who is emotionally distraught or to help bring breath to a pulseless person who has been pulled from the family swimming pool, I am committed to EMS. All of these events engender the same call to action and must be reacted to with the same seriousness, intensity, and magnanimity. It may be some routine matter or a dire emergency; this is a role filled with uncertainty and ambiguity, but that is how I choose to spend my days. My motives to become a physician are deeply seeded. They permeate my personality and emanate from my desire to respond to the needs of others. Through a traumatic personal event and my experiences as both a professional and volunteer, I have witnessed firsthand the power to heal the wounded and offer hope. Each person defines success in different ways. To know even one life has been improved by my actions affords me immense gratification and meaning. That is success to me and why I want to be a doctor.

This review is provided by EFIIE Consulting Group’s Pre-Health Senior Consultant Jude Chan

This student was a joy to work with — she was also the lowest MCAT profile I ever accepted onto my roster. At 504 on the second attempt (502 on her first) it would seem impossible and unlikely to most that she would be accepted into an allopathic medical school. Even for an osteopathic medical school this score could be too low. Additionally, the student’s GPA was considered competitive at 3.80, but it was from a lower ranked, less known college, so naturally most advisors would tell this student to go on and complete a master’s or postbaccalaureate program to show that she could manage upper level science classes. Further, she needed to retake the MCAT a third time.

However, I saw many other facets to this student’s history and life that spoke volumes about the type of student she was, and this was the positioning strategy I used for her file. Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA. Although many students have greater MCAT scores than 504 and higher GPAs than 3.80, I have helped students with lower scores and still maintained our 100% match rate. You are competing with thousands of candidates. Not every student out there requires our services and we are actually grateful that we can focus on a limited amount out of the tens of thousands that do. We are also here for the students who wish to focus on learning well the organic chemistry courses and physics courses and who want to focus on their research and shadowing opportunities rather than waste time deciphering the next step in this complex process. We tailor a pathway for each student dependent on their health care career goals, and our partnerships with non-profit organizations, hospitals, physicians and research labs allow our students to focus on what matters most — the building up of their basic science knowledge and their exposure to patients and patient care.

Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA.

Even students who believe that their struggle somehow disqualifies them from their dream career in health care can be redeemed if they are willing to work for it, just like this student with 502 and 504 MCAT scores. After our first consult, I saw a way to position her to still be accepted into an MD school in the US — I would not have recommended she register to our roster if I did not believe we could make a difference. Our rosters have a waitlist each semester, and it is in our best interest to be transparent with our students and protect our 100% record — something I consider a win-win. It is unethical to ever guarantee acceptance in admissions as we simply do not control these decisions. However, we respect it, play by the rules, and help our students stay one step ahead by creating an applicant profile that would be hard for the schools to ignore.

This may be the doctor I go to one day. Or the nurse or dentist my children or my grandchildren goes to one day. That is why it is much more than gaining acceptance — it is about properly matching the student to the best options for their education. Gaining an acceptance and being incapable of getting through the next 4 or 8 years (for my MD/PhD-MSTP students) is nonsensical.

-- Accepted To: Imperial College London UCAT Score: 2740 BMAT Score: 3.9, 5.4, 3.5A

My motivation to study Medicine stems from wishing to be a cog in the remarkable machine that is universal healthcare: a system which I saw first-hand when observing surgery in both the UK and Sri Lanka. Despite the differences in sanitation and technology, the universality of compassion became evident. When volunteering at OSCE training days, I spoke to many medical students, who emphasised the importance of a genuine interest in the sciences when studying Medicine. As such, I have kept myself informed of promising developments, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy. After learning about the role of HeLa cells in the development of the polio vaccine in Biology, I read 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' to find out more. Furthermore, I read that surface protein CD4 can be added to HeLa cells, allowing them to be infected with HIV, opening the possibility of these cells being used in HIV research to produce more life-changing drugs, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP). Following my BioGrad laboratory experience in HIV testing, and time collating data for research into inflammatory markers in lung cancer, I am also interested in pursuing a career in medical research. However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude. As the surgeon explained that the cancer had metastasised to her liver, I watched him empathetically tailor his language for the patient - he avoided medical jargon and instead gave her time to come to terms with this. I have been developing my communication skills by volunteering weekly at care homes for 3 years, which has improved my ability to read body language and structure conversations to engage with the residents, most of whom have dementia.

However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude.

Jude’s essay provides a very matter-of-fact account of their experience as a pre-medical student. However, they deepen this narrative by merging two distinct cultures through some common ground: a universality of compassion. Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

From their OSCE training days to their school’s Science society, Jude connects their analytical perspective — learning about HeLa cells — to something that is relatable and human, such as a poor farmer’s notable contribution to science. This approach provides a gateway into their moral compass without having to explicitly state it, highlighting their fervent desire to learn how to interact and communicate with others when in a position of authority.

Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

Jude’s closing paragraph reminds the reader of the similarities between two countries like the UK and Sri Lanka, and the importance of having a universal healthcare system that centers around the just and “world-class” treatment of patients. Overall, this essay showcases Jude’s personal initiative to continue to learn more and do better for the people they serve.

While the essay could have benefited from better transitions to weave Jude’s experiences into a personal story, its strong grounding in Jude’s motivation makes for a compelling application essay.

-- Accepted to: Weill Cornell Medical College GPA: 3.98 MCAT: 521

Sponsored by E fie Consulting Group : “ EFIIE ” boasts 100% match rate for all premedical and predental registered students. Not all students are accepted unto their pre-health student roster. Considered the most elite in the industry and assists from start to end – premed to residency. EFIIE is a one-stop-full-service education firm.

Following the physician’s unexpected request, we waited outside, anxiously waiting to hear the latest update on my father’s condition. It was early on in my father’s cancer progression – a change that had shaken our entire way of life overnight. During those 18 months, while my mother spent countless nights at the hospital, I took on the responsibility of caring for my brother. My social life became of minimal concern, and the majority of my studying for upcoming 12th- grade exams was done at the hospital. We were allowed back into the room as the physician walked out, and my parents updated us on the situation. Though we were a tight-knit family and my father wanted us to be present throughout his treatment, what this physician did was give my father a choice. Without making assumptions about who my father wanted in the room, he empowered him to make that choice independently in private. It was this respect directed towards my father, the subsequent efforts at caring for him, and the personal relationship of understanding they formed, that made the largest impact on him. Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

It was during this period that I became curious about the human body, as we began to learn physiology in more depth at school. In previous years, the problem-based approach I could take while learning math and chemistry were primarily what sparked my interest. However, I became intrigued by how molecular interactions translated into large-scale organ function, and how these organ systems integrated together to generate the extraordinary physiological functions we tend to under-appreciate. I began my undergraduate studies with the goal of pursuing these interests, whilst leaning towards a career in medicine. While I was surprised to find that there were upwards of 40 programs within the life sciences that I could pursue, it broadened my perspective and challenged me to explore my options within science and healthcare. I chose to study pathobiology and explore my interests through hospital volunteering and research at the end of my first year.

Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

While conducting research at St. Michael’s Hospital, I began to understand methods of data collection and analysis, and the thought process of scientific inquiry. I became acquainted with the scientific literature, and the experience transformed how I thought about the concepts I was learning in lecture. However, what stood out to me that summer was the time spent shadowing my supervisor in the neurosurgery clinic. It was where I began to fully understand what life would be like as a physician, and where the career began to truly appeal to me. What appealed to me most was the patient-oriented collaboration and discussions between my supervisor and his fellow; the physician-patient relationship that went far beyond diagnoses and treatments; and the problem solving that I experienced first-hand while being questioned on disease cases.

The day spent shadowing in the clinic was also the first time I developed a relationship with a patient. We were instructed to administer the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test to patients as they awaited the neurosurgeon. My task was to convey the instructions as clearly as possible and score each section. I did this as best I could, adapting my explanation to each patient, and paying close attention to their responses to ensure I was understood. The last patient was a challenging case, given a language barrier combined with his severe hydrocephalus. It was an emotional time for his family, seeing their father/husband struggle to complete simple tasks and subsequently give up. I encouraged him to continue trying. But I also knew my words would not remedy the condition underlying his struggles. All I could do was make attempts at lightening the atmosphere as I got to know him and his family better. Hours later, as I saw his remarkable improvement following a lumbar puncture, and the joy on his and his family’s faces at his renewed ability to walk independently, I got a glimpse of how rewarding it would be to have the ability and privilege to care for such patients. By this point, I knew I wanted to commit to a life in medicine. Two years of weekly hospital volunteering have allowed me to make a small difference in patients’ lives by keeping them company through difficult times, and listening to their concerns while striving to help in the limited way that I could. I want to have the ability to provide care and treatment on a daily basis as a physician. Moreover, my hope is that the breadth of medicine will provide me with the opportunity to make an impact on a larger scale. Whilst attending conferences on neuroscience and surgical technology, I became aware of the potential to make a difference through healthcare, and I look forward to developing the skills necessary to do so through a Master’s in Global Health. Whether through research, health innovation, or public health, I hope not only to care for patients with the same compassion with which physicians cared for my father, but to add to the daily impact I can have by tackling large-scale issues in health.

Taylor’s essay offers both a straightforward, in-depth narrative and a deep analysis of his experiences, which effectively reveals his passion and willingness to learn in the medical field. The anecdote of Taylor’s father gives the reader insight into an original instance of learning through experience and clearly articulates Taylor’s motivations for becoming a compassionate and respectful physician.

Taylor strikes an impeccable balance between discussing his accomplishments and his character. All of his life experiences — and the difficult challenges he overcame — introduce the reader to an important aspect of Taylor’s personality: his compassion, care for his family, and power of observation in reflecting on the decisions his father’s doctor makes. His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael’s Hospital is indicative of Taylor’s curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship. Moreover, he shows how his volunteer work enabled him to see how medicine goes “beyond diagnoses and treatments” — an observation that also speaks to his compassion.

His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael's Hospital is indicative of Taylor's curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship.

Finally, Taylor also tells the reader about his ambition and purpose, which is important when thinking about applying to medical school. He discusses his hope of tackling larger scale problems through any means possible in medicine. This notion of using self interest to better the world is imperative to a successful college essay, and it is nicely done here.

-- Accepted to: Washington University

Sponsored by A dmitRx : We are a group of Chicago-based medical students who realize how challenging medical school admissions can be, so we want to provide our future classmates with resources we wish we had. Our mission at AdmitRx is to provide pre-medical students with affordable, personalized, high-quality guidance towards becoming an admitted medical student.

Running has always been one of my greatest passions whether it be with friends or alone with my thoughts. My dad has always been my biggest role model and was the first to introduce me to the world of running. We entered races around the country, and one day he invited me on a run that changed my life forever. The St. Jude Run is an annual event that raises millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. My dad has led or our local team for as long as I can remember, and I had the privilege to join when I was 16. From the first step I knew this was the environment for me – people from all walks of life united with one goal of ending childhood cancer. I had an interest in medicine before the run, and with these experiences I began to consider oncology as a career. When this came up in conversations, I would invariably be faced with the question “Do you really think you could get used to working with dying kids?” My 16-year-old self responded with something noble but naïve like “It’s important work, so I’ll have to handle it”. I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

As I transitioned into college my plans for oncology were alive and well. I began working in a biochemistry lab researching new anti-cancer drugs. It was a small start, but I was overjoyed to be a part of the process. I applied to work at a number of places for the summer, but the Pediatric Oncology Education program (POE) at St. Jude was my goal. One afternoon, I had just returned from class and there it was: an email listed as ‘POE Offer’. I was ecstatic and accepted the offer immediately. Finally, I could get a glimpse at what my future holds. My future PI, Dr. Q, specialized in solid tumor translational research and I couldn’t wait to get started.

I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

Summer finally came, I moved to Memphis, and I was welcomed by the X lab. I loved translational research because the results are just around the corner from helping patients. We began a pre-clinical trial of a new chemotherapy regimen and the results were looking terrific. I was also able to accompany Dr. Q whenever she saw patients in the solid tumor division. Things started simple with rounds each morning before focusing on the higher risk cases. I was fortunate enough to get to know some of the patients quite well, and I could sometimes help them pass the time with a game or two on a slow afternoon between treatments. These experiences shined a very human light on a field I had previously seen only through a microscope in a lab.

I arrived one morning as usual, but Dr. Q pulled me aside before rounds. She said one of the patients we had been seeing passed away in the night. I held my composure in the moment, but I felt as though an anvil was crushing down on me. It was tragic but I knew loss was part of the job, so I told myself to push forward. A few days later, I had mostly come to terms with what happened, but then the anvil came crashing back down with the passing of another patient. I could scarcely hold back the tears this time. That moment, it didn’t matter how many miraculous successes were happening a few doors down. Nothing overshadowed the loss, and there was no way I could ‘get used to it’ as my younger self had hoped.

I was still carrying the weight of what had happened and it was showing, so I asked Dr. Q for help. How do you keep smiling each day? How do you get used to it? The questions in my head went on. What I heard next changed my perspective forever. She said you keep smiling because no matter what happened, you’re still hope for the next patient. It’s not about getting used to it. You never get used to it and you shouldn’t. Beating cancer takes lifetimes, and you can’t look passed a life’s worth of hardships. I realized that moving passed the loss of patients would never suffice, but I need to move forward with them. Through the successes and shortcomings, we constantly make progress. I like to imagine that in all our future endeavors, it is the hands of those who have gone before us that guide the way. That is why I want to attend medical school and become a physician. We may never end the sting of loss, but physicians are the bridge between the past and the future. No where else is there the chance to learn from tragedy and use that to shape a better future. If I can learn something from one loss, keep moving forward, and use that knowledge to help even a single person – save one life, bring a moment of joy, avoid a moment of pain—then that is how I want to spend my life.

The change wasn’t overnight. The next loss still brought pain, but I took solace in moving forward so that we might learn something to give hope to a future patient. I returned to campus in a new lab doing cancer research, and my passion for medicine continues to flourish. I still think about all the people I encountered at St. Jude, especially those we lost. It might be a stretch, but during the long hours at the lab bench I still picture their hands moving through mine each step of the way. I could never have foreseen where the first steps of the St. Jude Run would bring me. I’m not sure where the road to becoming a physician may lead, but with helping hands guiding the way, I won’t be running it alone.

This essay, a description of the applicant’s intellectual challenges, displays the hardships of tending to cancer patients as a milestone of experience and realization of what it takes to be a physician. The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional. In this way, the applicant gives the reader some insight into the applicant’s mindset, and their ability to think beyond the surface for ways to become better at what they do.

However, the essay fails to zero in on the applicant’s character, instead elaborating on life events that weakly illustrate the applicant’s growth as a physician. The writer’s mantra (“keep moving forward”) is feebly projected, and seems unoriginal due to the lack of a personalized connection between the experience at St. Jude and how that led to the applicant’s growth and mindset changes.

The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional.

The writer, by only focusing on grief brought from patient deaths at St. Jude, misses out on the opportunity to further describe his or her experience at the hospital and portray an original, well-rounded image of his or her strengths, weaknesses, and work ethic.

The applicant ends the essay by attempting to highlight the things they learned at St. Jude, but fails to organize the ideas into a cohesive, comprehensible section. These ideas are also too abstract, and are vague indicators of the applicant’s character that are difficult to grasp.

-- Accepted to: New York University School of Medicine

Sponsored by MedEdits : MedEdits Medical Admissions has been helping applicants get into medical schools like Harvard for more than ten years. Structured like an academic medical department, MedEdits has experts in admissions, writing, editing, medicine, and interview prep working with you collaboratively so you can earn the best admissions results possible.

“Is this the movie you were talking about Alice?” I said as I showed her the movie poster on my iPhone. “Oh my God, I haven’t seen that poster in over 70 years,” she said with her arms trembling in front of her. Immediately, I sat up straight and started to question further. We were talking for about 40 minutes, and the most exciting thing she brought up in that time was the new flavor of pudding she had for lunch. All of sudden, she’s back in 1940 talking about what it was like to see this movie after school for only 5¢ a ticket! After an engaging discussion about life in the 40’s, I knew I had to indulge her. Armed with a plethora of movie streaming sights, I went to work scouring the web. No luck. The movie, “My Son My Son,” was apparently not in high demand amongst torrenting teens. I had to entreat my older brother for his Amazon Prime account to get a working stream. However, breaking up the monotony and isolation felt at the nursing home with a simple movie was worth the pandering.

While I was glad to help a resident have some fun, I was partly motivated by how much Alice reminded me of my own grandfather. In accordance with custom, my grandfather was to stay in our house once my grandmother passed away. More specifically, he stayed in my room and my bed. Just like grandma’s passing, my sudden roommate was a rough transition. In 8th grade at the time, I considered myself to be a generally good guy. Maybe even good enough to be a doctor one day. I volunteered at the hospital, shadowed regularly, and had a genuine interest for science. However, my interest in medicine was mostly restricted to academia. To be honest, I never had a sustained exposure to the palliative side of medicine until the arrival of my new roommate.

The two years I slept on that creaky wooden bed with him was the first time my metal was tested. Sharing that room, I was the one to take care of him. I was the one to rub ointment on his back, to feed him when I came back from school, and to empty out his spittoon when it got full. It was far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time. With 75 years separating us, and senile dementia setting in, he would often forget who I was or where he was. Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve. Assured by my Syrian Orthodox faith, I even prayed about it; asking God for comfort and firmness on my end. Over time, I grew slow to speak and eager to listen as he started to ramble more and more about bits and pieces of the past. If I was lucky, I would be able to stich together a narrative that may or may have not been true. In any case, my patience started to bud beyond my age group.

Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve.

Although I grew more patient with his disease, my curiosity never really quelled. Conversely, it developed further alongside my rapidly growing interest in the clinical side of medicine. Naturally, I became drawn to a neurology lab in college where I got to study pathologies ranging from atrophy associated with schizophrenia, and necrotic lesions post stroke. However, unlike my intro biology courses, my work at the neurology lab was rooted beyond the academics. Instead, I found myself driven by real people who could potentially benefit from our research. In particular, my shadowing experience with Dr. Dominger in the Veteran’s home made the patient more relevant in our research as I got to encounter geriatric patients with age related diseases, such as Alzhimer’s and Parkinson’s. Furthermore, I had the privilege of of talking to the families of a few of these patients to get an idea of the impact that these diseases had on the family structure. For me, the scut work in the lab meant a lot more with these families in mind than the tritium tracer we were using in the lab.

Despite my achievements in the lab and the classroom, my time with my grandfather still holds a special place in my life story. The more I think about him, the more confident I am in my decision to pursue a career where caring for people is just as important, if not more important, than excelling at academics. Although it was a lot of work, the years spent with him was critical in expanding my horizons both in my personal life and in the context of medicine. While I grew to be more patient around others, I also grew to appreciate medicine beyond the science. This more holistic understanding of medicine had a synergistic effect in my work as I gained a purpose behind the extra hours in the lab, sleepless nights in the library, and longer hours volunteering. I had a reason for what I was doing that may one day help me have long conversations with my own grandchildren about the price of popcorn in the 2000’s.

The most important thing to highlight in Avery’s essay is how he is able to create a duality between his interest in not only the clinical, more academic-based side of medicine, but also the field’s personal side.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather. These two experiences build up the “synergistic” relationship between caring for people and studying the science behind medicine. In this way, he is able to clearly state his passions for medicine and explain his exact motives for entering the field. Furthermore, in his discussion of her grandfather, he effectively employs imagery (“rub ointment on his back,” “feed him when I came back from school,” etc.) to describe the actual work that he does, calling it initially as “far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time.” By first mentioning his initial impression, then transitioning into how he grew to appreciate the experience, Avery is able to demonstrate a strength of character, sense of enormous responsibility and capability, and open-minded attitude.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather.

Later in the essay, Avery is also able to relate his time caring for his grandfather to his work with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, showcasing the social impact of his work, as the reader is likely already familiar with the biological impact of the work. This takes Avery’s essay full circle, bringing it back to how a discussion with an elderly patient about the movies reminds him of why he chose to pursue medicine.

That said, the essay does feel rushed near the end, as the writer was likely trying to remain within the word count. There could be a more developed transition before Avery introduces the last sentence about “conversations with my own grandchildren,” especially as a strong essay ending is always recommended.

-- Accepted To: Saint Louis University Medical School Direct Admission Medical Program

Sponsored by Atlas Admissions : Atlas Admissions provides expert medical school admissions consulting and test preparation services. Their experienced, physician-driven team consistently delivers top results by designing comprehensive, personalized strategies to optimize applications. Atlas Admissions is based in Boston, MA and is trusted by clients worldwide.

The tension in the office was tangible. The entire team sat silently sifting through papers as Dr. L introduced Adam, a 60-year-old morbidly obese man recently admitted for a large open wound along his chest. As Dr. L reviewed the details of the case, his prognosis became even bleaker: hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, hyperlipidemia; the list went on and on. As the humdrum of the side-conversations came to a halt, and the shuffle of papers softened, the reality of Adam’s situation became apparent. Adam had a few months to live at best, a few days at worst. To make matters worse, Adam’s insurance would not cover his treatment costs. With no job, family, or friends, he was dying poor and alone.

I followed Dr. L out of the conference room, unsure what would happen next. “Well,” she muttered hesitantly, “We need to make sure that Adam is on the same page as us.” It’s one thing to hear bad news, and another to hear it utterly alone. Dr. L frantically reviewed all of Adam’s paperwork desperately looking for someone to console him, someone to be at his side. As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy. That empathy is exactly what I saw in Dr. L as she went out of her way to comfort a patient she met hardly 20 minutes prior.

Since high school, I’ve been fascinated by technology’s potential to improve healthcare. As a volunteer in [the] Student Ambassador program, I was fortunate enough to watch an open-heart surgery. Intrigued by the confluence of technology and medicine, I chose to study biomedical engineering. At [school], I wanted to help expand this interface, so I became involved with research through Dr. P’s lab by studying the applications of electrospun scaffolds for dermal wound healing. While still in the preliminary stages of research, I learned about the Disability Service Club (DSC) and decided to try something new by volunteering at a bowling outing.

As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy.

The DSC promotes awareness of cognitive disabilities in the community and seeks to alleviate difficulties for the disabled. During one outing, I collaborated with Arc, a local organization with a similar mission. Walking in, I was told that my role was to support the participants by providing encouragement. I decided to help a relatively quiet group of individuals assisted by only one volunteer, Mary. Mary informed me that many individuals with whom I was working were diagnosed with ASD. Suddenly, she started cheering, as one of the members of the group bowled a strike. The group went wild. Everyone was dancing, singing, and rejoicing. Then I noticed one gentleman sitting at our table, solemn-faced. I tried to start a conversation with him, but he remained unresponsive. I sat with him for the rest of the game, trying my hardest to think of questions that would elicit more than a monosyllabic response, but to no avail. As the game ended, I stood up to say bye when he mumbled, “Thanks for talking.” Then he quickly turned his head away. I walked away beaming. Although I was unable to draw out a smile or even sustain a conversation, at the end of the day, the fact that this gentleman appreciated my mere effort completely overshadowed the awkwardness of our time together. Later that day, I realized that as much as I enjoyed the thrill of research and its applications, helping other people was what I was most passionate about.

When it finally came time to tell Adam about his deteriorating condition, I was not sure how he would react. Dr. L gently greeted him and slowly let reality take its toll. He stoically turned towards Dr. L and groaned, “I don’t really care. Just leave me alone.” Dr. L gave him a concerned nod and gradually left the room. We walked to the next room where we met with a pastor from Adam’s church.

“Adam’s always been like that,” remarked the pastor, “he’s never been one to express emotion.” We sat with his pastor for over an hour discussing how we could console Adam. It turned out that Adam was part of a motorcycle club, but recently quit because of his health. So, Dr. L arranged for motorcycle pictures and other small bike trinkets to be brought to his room as a reminder of better times.

Dr. L’s simple gesture reminded me of why I want to pursue medicine. There is something sacred, empowering, about providing support when people need it the most; whether it be simple as starting a conversation, or providing support during the most trying of times. My time spent conducting research kindled my interest in the science of medicine, and my service as a volunteer allowed me to realize how much I valued human interaction. Science and technology form the foundation of medicine, but to me, empathy is the essence. It is my combined interest in science and service that inspires me to pursue medicine. It is that combined interest that makes me aspire to be a physician.

Parker’s essay focuses on one central narrative with a governing theme of compassionate and attentive care for patients, which is the key motivator for her application to medical school. Parker’s story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field. This effectively demonstrates to the reader what kind of doctor Parker wants to be in the future.

Parker’s narrative has a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it easy for the reader to follow. She intersperses the main narrative about Adam with experiences she has with other patients and reflects upon her values as she contemplates pursuing medicine as a career. Her anecdote about bowling with the patients diagnosed with ASD is another instance where she uses a story to tell the reader why she values helping people through medicine and attentive patient care, especially as she focuses on the impact her work made on one man at the event.

Parker's story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field.

All throughout the essay, the writing is engaging and Parker incorporates excellent imagery, which goes well with her varied sentence structure. The essay is also strong because it comes back full circle at its conclusion, tying the overall narrative back to the story of Dr. L and Adam, which speaks to Parker’s motives for going to medical school.

-- Accepted To: Emory School of Medicine

Growing up, I enjoyed visiting my grandparents. My grandfather was an established doctor, helping the sick and elderly in rural Taiwan until two weeks before he died at 91 years old. His clinic was located on the first floor of the residency with an exam room, treatment room, X-ray room, and small pharmacy. Curious about his work, I would follow him to see his patients. Grandpa often asked me if I want to be a doctor just like him. I always smiled, but was more interested in how to beat the latest Pokémon game. I was in 8th grade when my grandfather passed away. I flew back to Taiwan to attend his funeral. It was a gloomy day and the only street in the small village became a mourning place for the villagers. Flowers filled the streets and people came to pay their respects. An old man told me a story: 60 years ago, a village woman was in a difficult labor. My grandfather rushed into the house and delivered a baby boy. That boy was the old man and he was forever grateful. Stories of grandpa saving lives and bringing happiness to families were told during the ceremony. At that moment, I realized why my grandfather worked so tirelessly up until his death as a physician. He did it for the reward of knowing that he kept a family together and saved a life. The ability for a doctor to heal and bring happiness is the reason why I want to study medicine. Medical school is the first step on a lifelong journey of learning, but I feel that my journey leading up to now has taught me some things of what it means to be an effective physician.

With a newfound purpose, I began volunteering and shadowing at my local hospital. One situation stood out when I was a volunteer in the cardiac stress lab. As I attached EKG leads onto a patient, suddenly the patient collapsed and started gasping for air. His face turned pale, then slightly blue. The charge nurse triggered “Code Blue” and started CPR. A team of doctors and nurses came, rushing in with a defibrillator to treat and stabilize the patient. What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care. I want to be a leader as well as part of a team that can make a difference in a person’s life. I have refined these lessons about teamwork and leadership to my activities. In high school I was an 8 time varsity letter winner for swimming and tennis and captain of both of those teams. In college I have participated in many activities, but notably serving as assistant principle cellist in my school symphony as well as being a co-founding member of a quartet. From both my athletic experiences and my music experiences I learned what it was like to not only assert my position as a leader and to effectively communicate my views, but equally as important I learned how to compromise and listen to the opinions of others. Many physicians that I have observed show a unique blend of confidence and humility.

What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care.

College opened me up to new perspectives on what makes a complete physician. A concept that was preached in the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions in Medicine (GPPA) was that medicine is both an art and a science. The art of medicine deals with a variety of aspects including patient relationships as well as ethics. Besides my strong affinity for the sciences and mathematics, I always have had interest in history. I took courses in both German literature and history, which influenced me to take a class focusing on Nazi neuroscientists. It was the ideology of seeing the disabled and different races as test subjects rather than people that led to devastating lapses in medical ethics. The most surprising fact for me was that doctors who were respected and leaders in their field disregarded the humanity of patient and rather focused on getting results from their research. Speaking with Dr. Zeidman, the professor for this course, influenced me to start my research which deals with the ethical qualms of using data derived from unethical Nazi experimentation such as the brains derived from the adult and child euthanasia programs. Today, science is so result driven, it is important to keep in mind the ethics behind research and clinical practice. Also the development of personalized genomic medicine brings into question about potential privacy violations and on the extreme end discrimination. The study of ethics no matter the time period is paramount in the medical field. The end goal should always be to put the patient first.

Teaching experiences in college inspired me to become a physician educator if I become a doctor. Post-MCAT, I was offered a job by Next Step Test Prep as a tutor to help students one on one for the MCAT. I had a student who stated he was doing well during practice, but couldn’t get the correct answer during practice tests. Working with the student, I pointed out his lack of understanding concepts and this realization helped him and improves his MCAT score. Having the ability to educate the next generation of doctors is not only necessary, but also a rewarding experience.

My experiences volunteering and shadowing doctors in the hospital as well as my understanding of what it means to be a complete physician will make me a good candidate as a medical school student. It is my goal to provide the best care to patients and to put a smile on a family’s face just as my grandfather once had. Achieving this goal does not take a special miracle, but rather hard work, dedication, and an understanding of what it means to be an effective physician.

Through reflecting on various stages of life, Quinn expresses how they found purpose in pursuing medicine. Starting as a child more interested in Pokemon than their grandfather’s patients, Quinn exhibits personal growth through recognizing the importance of their grandfather’s work saving lives and eventually gaining the maturity to work towards this goal as part of a team.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather’s clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman’s difficult labor — which grounds Quinn’s story in their family roots. Yet, the transition from shadowing in hospitals to pursuing leadership positions in high schools is jarring, and the list of athletic and musical accomplishments reads like a laundry list of accomplishments until Quinn neatly wraps them up as evidence of leadership and teamwork skills. Similarly, the section about tutoring, while intended to demonstrate Quinn’s desire to educate future physicians, lacks the emotional resonance necessary to elevate it from another line lifted from their resume.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather's clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman's difficult labor — which grounds Quinn's story in their family roots.

The strongest point of Quinn’s essay is the focus on their unique arts and humanities background. This equips them with a unique perspective necessary to consider issues in medicine in a new light. Through detailing how history and literature coursework informed their unique research, Quinn sets their application apart from the multitude of STEM-focused narratives. Closing the essay with the desire to help others just as their grandfather had, Quinn ties the narrative back to their personal roots.

-- Accepted To: Edinburgh University UCAT Score: 2810 BMAT Score: 4.6, 4.2, 3.5A

Exposure to the medical career from an early age by my father, who would explain diseases of the human body, sparked my interest for Medicine and drove me to seek out work experience. I witnessed the contrast between use of bone saws and drills to gain access to the brain, with subsequent use of delicate instruments and microscopes in neurosurgery. The surgeon's care to remove the tumour, ensuring minimal damage to surrounding healthy brain and his commitment to achieve the best outcome for the patient was inspiring. The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Whilst shadowing a surgical team in Texas, carrying out laparoscopic bariatric procedures, I appreciated the surgeon's dedication to continual professional development and research. I was inspired to carry out an Extended Project Qualification on whether bariatric surgery should be funded by the NHS. By researching current literature beyond my school curriculum, I learnt to assess papers for bias and use reliable sources to make a conclusion on a difficult ethical situation. I know that doctors are required to carry out research and make ethical decisions and so, I want to continue developing these skills during my time at medical school.

The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Attending an Oncology multi-disciplinary team meeting showed me the importance of teamwork in medicine. I saw each team member, with specific areas of expertise, contributing to the discussion and actively listening, and together they formed a holistic plan of action for patients. During my Young Enterprise Award, I facilitated a brainstorm where everyone pitched a product idea. Each member offered a different perspective on the idea and then voted on a product to carry forward in the competition. As a result, we came runners up in the Regional Finals. Furthermore, I started developing my leadership skills, which I improved by doing Duke of Edinburgh Silver and attending a St. John Ambulance Leadership course. In one workshop, similar to the bariatric surgeon I shadowed, I communicated instructions and delegated roles to my team to successfully solve a puzzle. These experiences highlighted the crucial need for teamwork and leadership as a doctor.

Observing a GP, I identified the importance of compassion and empathy. During a consultation with a severely depressed patient, the GP came to the patient's eye level and used a calm, non-judgmental tone of voice, easing her anxieties and allowing her to disclose more information. While volunteering at a care home weekly for two years, I adapted my communication for a resident suffering with dementia who was disconnected from others. I would take her to a quiet environment, speak slowly and in a non-threatening manner, as such, she became talkative, engaged and happier. I recognised that communication and compassion allows doctors to build rapport, gain patients' trust and improve compliance. For two weeks, I shadowed a surgeon performing multiple craniotomies a day. I appreciated the challenges facing doctors including time and stress management needed to deliver high quality care. Organisation, by prioritising patients based on urgency and creating a timetable on the ward round, was key to running the theatre effectively. Similarly, I create to-do-lists and prioritise my academics and extra-curricular activities to maintain a good work-life balance: I am currently preparing for my Grade 8 in Singing, alongside my A-level exams. I also play tennis for the 1st team to relax and enable me to refocus. I wish to continue my hobbies at university, as ways to manage stress.

Through my work experiences and voluntary work, I have gained a realistic understanding of Medicine and its challenges. I have begun to display the necessary skills that I witnessed, such as empathy, leadership and teamwork. The combination of these skills with my fascination for the human body drives me to pursue a place at medical school and a career as a doctor.

This essay traces Alex's personal exploration of medicine through different stages of life, taking a fairly traditional path to the medical school application essay. From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

Alex details how experiences conducting research and working with medical teams have confirmed his interest in medicine. Although the breadth of experiences speaks to the applicant’s interest in medicine, the essay verges on being a regurgitation of the Alex's resume, which does not provide the admissions officer with any new insights or information and ultimately takes away from the essay as a whole. As such, the writing’s lack of voice or unique perspective puts the applicant at risk of sounding middle-of-the-road.

From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

The essay’s organization, however, is one of its strengths — each paragraph provides an example of personal growth through a new experience in medicine. Further, Alex demonstrates his compassion and diligence through detailed stories, which give a reader a glimpse into his values. Through recognizing important skills necessary to be a doctor, Alex demonstrates that he has the mature perspective necessary to embark upon this journey.

What this essay lacks in a unique voice, it makes up for in professionalism and organization. Alex's earnest desire to attend medical school is what makes this essay shine.

-- Accepted To: University of Toronto MCAT Scores: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems - 128, Critical Analysis and Reading Skills - 127, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems - 127, Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior - 130, Total - 512

Moment of brilliance.

Revelation.

These are all words one would use to describe their motivation by a higher calling to achieve something great. Such an experience is often cited as the reason for students to become physicians; I was not one of these students. Instead of waiting for an event like this, I chose to get involved in the activities that I found most invigorating. Slowly but surely, my interests, hobbies, and experiences inspired me to pursue medicine.

As a medical student, one must possess a solid academic foundation to facilitate an understanding of physical health and illness. Since high school, I found science courses the most appealing and tended to devote most of my time to their exploration. I also enjoyed learning about the music, food, literature, and language of other cultures through Latin and French class. I chose the Medical Sciences program because it allowed for flexibility in course selection. I have studied several scientific disciplines in depth like physiology and pathology while taking classes in sociology, psychology, and classical studies. Such a diverse academic portfolio has strengthened my ability to consider multiple viewpoints and attack problems from several angles. I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

I was motivated to travel as much as possible by learning about other cultures in school. Exposing myself to different environments offered me perspective on universal traits that render us human. I want to pursue medicine because I believe that this principle of commonality relates to medical practice in providing objective and compassionate care for all. Combined with my love for travel, this realization took me to Nepal with Volunteer Abroad (VA) to build a school for a local orphanage (4). The project’s demands required a group of us to work closely as a team to accomplish the task. Rooted in different backgrounds, we often had conflicting perspectives; even a simple task such as bricklaying could stir up an argument because each person had their own approach. However, we discussed why we came to Nepal and reached the conclusion that all we wanted was to build a place of education for the children. Our unifying goal allowed us to reach compromises and truly appreciate the value of teamwork. These skills are vital in a clinical setting, where physicians and other health care professionals need to collaborate as a multidisciplinary team to tackle patients’ physical, emotional, social, and psychological problems.

I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

The insight I gained from my Nepal excursion encouraged me to undertake and develop the role of VA campus representative (4). Unfortunately, many students are not equipped with the resources to volunteer abroad; I raised awareness about local initiatives so everyone had a chance to do their part. I tried to avoid pushing solely for international volunteerism for this reason and also because it can undermine the work of local skilled workers and foster dependency. Nevertheless, I took on this position with VA because I felt that the potential benefits were more significant than the disadvantages. Likewise, doctors must constantly weigh out the pros and cons of a situation to help a patient make the best choice. I tried to dispel fears of traveling abroad by sharing first-hand experiences so that students could make an informed decision. When people approached me regarding unfamiliar placements, I researched their questions and provided them with both answers and a sense of security. I found great fulfillment in addressing the concerns of individuals, and I believe that similar processes could prove invaluable in the practice of medicine.

As part of the Sickkids Summer Research Program, I began to appreciate the value of experimental investigation and evidence-based medicine (23). Responsible for initiating an infant nutrition study at a downtown clinic, I was required to explain the project’s implications and daily protocol to physicians, nurses and phlebotomists. I took anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of children aged 1-10 and asked parents about their and their child’s diet, television habits, physical exercise regimen, and sunlight exposure. On a few occasions, I analyzed and presented a small set of data to my superiors through oral presentations and written documents.

With continuous medical developments, physicians must participate in lifelong learning. More importantly, they can engage in research to further improve the lives of their patients. I encountered a young mother one day at the clinic struggling to complete the study’s questionnaires. After I asked her some questions, she began to open up to me as her anxiety subsided; she then told me that her child suffered from low iron. By talking with the physician and reading a few articles, I recommended a few supplements and iron-rich foods to help her child. This experience in particular helped me realize that I enjoy clinical research and strive to address the concerns of people with whom I interact.

Research is often impeded by a lack of government and private funding. My clinical placement motivated me to become more adept in budgeting, culminating in my role as founding Co-President of the UWO Commerce Club (ICCC) (9). Together, fellow club executives and I worked diligently to get the club ratified, a process that made me aware of the bureaucratic challenges facing new organizations. Although we had a small budget, we found ways of minimizing expenditure on advertising so that we were able to host more speakers who lectured about entrepreneurship and overcoming challenges. Considering the limited space available in hospitals and the rising cost of health care, physicians, too, are often forced to prioritize and manage the needs of their patients.

No one needs a grand revelation to pursue medicine. Although passion is vital, it is irrelevant whether this comes suddenly from a life-altering event or builds up progressively through experience. I enjoyed working in Nepal, managing resources, and being a part of clinical and research teams; medicine will allow me to combine all of these aspects into one wholesome career.

I know with certainty that this is the profession for me.

Jimmy opens this essay hinting that his essay will follow a well-worn path, describing the “big moment” that made him realize why he needed to become a physician. But Jimmy quickly turns the reader’s expectation on its head by stating that he did not have one of those moments. By doing this, Jimmy commands attention and has the reader waiting for an explanation. He soon provides the explanation that doubles as the “thesis” of his essay: Jimmy thinks passion can be built progressively, and Jimmy’s life progression has led him to the medical field.

Jimmy did not make the decision to pursue a career in medicine lightly. Instead he displays through anecdotes that his separate passions — helping others, exploring different walks of life, personal responsibility, and learning constantly, among others — helped Jimmy realize that being a physician was the career for him. By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously. The ability to evaluate multiple options and make an informed, well-reasoned decision is one that bodes well for Jimmy’s medical career.

While in some cases this essay does a lot of “telling,” the comprehensive and decisive walkthrough indicates what Jimmy’s idea of a doctor is. To him, a doctor is someone who is genuinely interested in his work, someone who can empathize and related to his patients, someone who can make important decisions with a clear head, and someone who is always trying to learn more. Just like his decision to work at the VA, Jimmy has broken down the “problem” (what his career should be) and reached a sound conclusion.

By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously.

Additionally, this essay communicates Jimmy’s care for others. While it is not always advisable to list one’s volunteer efforts, each activity Jimmy lists has a direct application to his essay. Further, the sheer amount of philanthropic work that Jimmy does speaks for itself: Jimmy would not have worked at VA, spent a summer with Sickkids, or founded the UWO finance club if he were not passionate about helping others through medicine. Like the VA story, the details of Jimmy’s participation in Sickkids and the UWO continue to show how he has thought about and embodied the principles that a physician needs to be successful.

Jimmy’s essay both breaks common tropes and lives up to them. By framing his “list” of activities with his passion-happens-slowly mindset, Jimmy injects purpose and interest into what could have been a boring and braggadocious essay if it were written differently. Overall, this essay lets the reader know that Jimmy is seriously dedicated to becoming a physician, and both his thoughts and his actions inspire confidence that he will give medical school his all.

The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this content.

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Sample Medical School Essays

Applying to medical school is an exciting decision, but the application process is very competitive. This means when it comes to your application you need to ensure you’ve put your best foot forward and done everything you can to stand out from other applicants. One great way to provide additional information on why you have decided to pursue a career in medicine and why you’re qualified, is your medical school essay. Read these samples to get a good idea on how you can write your own top-notch essay.

This section contains five sample medical school essays

• Medical School Sample Essay One
• Medical School Sample Essay Two
• Medical School Sample Essay Three
• Medical School Sample Essay Four
• Medical School Sample Essay Five

Medical School Essay One

When I was twelve years old, a drunk driver hit the car my mother was driving while I was in the backseat. I have very few memories of the accident, but I do faintly recall a serious but calming face as I was gently lifted out of the car. The paramedic held my hand as we traveled to the hospital. I was in the hospital for several weeks and that same paramedic came to visit me almost every day. During my stay, I also got to know the various doctors and nurses in the hospital on a personal level. I remember feeling anxiety about my condition, but not sadness or even fear. It seemed to me that those around me, particularly my family, were more fearful of what might happen to me than I was. I don’t believe it was innocence or ignorance, but rather a trust in the abilities of my doctors. It was as if my doctors and I had a silent bond. Now that I’m older I fear death and sickness in a more intense way than I remember experiencing it as a child. My experience as a child sparked a keen interest in how we approach pediatric care, especially as it relates to our psychological and emotional support of children facing serious medical conditions. It was here that I experienced first-hand the power and compassion of medicine, not only in healing but also in bringing unlikely individuals together, such as adults and children, in uncommon yet profound ways. And it was here that I began to take seriously the possibility of becoming a pediatric surgeon.

My interest was sparked even more when, as an undergraduate, I was asked to assist in a study one of my professors was conducting on how children experience and process fear and the prospect of death. This professor was not in the medical field; rather, her background is in cultural anthropology. I was very honored to be part of this project at such an early stage of my career. During the study, we discovered that children face death in extremely different ways than adults do. We found that children facing fatal illnesses are very aware of their condition, even when it hasn’t been fully explained to them, and on the whole were willing to fight their illnesses, but were also more accepting of their potential fate than many adults facing similar diagnoses. We concluded our study by asking whether and to what extent this discovery should impact the type of care given to children in contrast to adults. I am eager to continue this sort of research as I pursue my medical career. The intersection of medicine, psychology, and socialization or culture (in this case, the social variables differentiating adults from children) is quite fascinating and is a field that is in need of better research.

Although much headway has been made in this area in the past twenty or so years, I feel there is a still a tendency in medicine to treat diseases the same way no matter who the patient is. We are slowly learning that procedures and drugs are not always universally effective. Not only must we alter our care of patients depending upon these cultural and social factors, we may also need to alter our entire emotional and psychological approach to them as well.

It is for this reason that I’m applying to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as it has one of the top programs for pediatric surgery in the country, as well as several renowned researchers delving into the social, generational, and cultural questions in which I’m interested. My approach to medicine will be multidisciplinary, which is evidenced by the fact that I’m already double-majoring in early childhood psychology and pre-med, with a minor in cultural anthropology. This is the type of extraordinary care that I received as a child—care that seemed to approach my injuries with a much larger and deeper picture than that which pure medicine cannot offer—and it is this sort of care I want to provide my future patients. I turned what might have been a debilitating event in my life—a devastating car accident—into the inspiration that has shaped my life since. I am driven and passionate. And while I know that the pediatric surgery program at Johns Hopkins will likely be the second biggest challenge I will face in my life, I know that I am up for it. I am ready to be challenged and prove to myself what I’ve been telling myself since that fateful car accident: I will be a doctor.

Tips for a Successful Medical School Essay

• If you’re applying through AMCAS, remember to keep your essay more general rather than tailored to a specific medical school, because your essay will be seen by multiple schools.
• AMCAS essays are limited to 5300 characters—not words! This includes spaces.
• Make sure the information you include in your essay doesn't conflict with the information in your other application materials.
• In general, provide additional information that isn’t found in your other application materials. Look at the essay as an opportunity to tell your story rather than a burden.
• Keep the interview in mind as you write. You will most likely be asked questions regarding your essay during the interview, so think about the experiences you want to talk about.
• When you are copying and pasting from a word processor to the AMCAS application online, formatting and font will be lost. Don’t waste your time making it look nice. Be sure to look through the essay once you’ve copied it into AMCAS and edit appropriately for any odd characters that result from pasting.
• Avoid overly controversial topics. While it is fine to take a position and back up your position with evidence, you don’t want to sound narrow-minded.
• Revise, revise, revise. Have multiple readers look at your essay and make suggestions. Go over your essay yourself many times and rewrite it several times until you feel that it communicates your message effectively and creatively.
• Make the opening sentence memorable. Admissions officers will read dozens of personal statements in a day. You must say something at the very beginning to catch their attention, encourage them to read the essay in detail, and make yourself stand out from the crowd.
• Character traits to portray in your essay include: maturity, intellect, critical thinking skills, leadership, tolerance, perseverance, and sincerity.

Medical School Essay Two

If you had told me ten years ago that I would be writing this essay and planning for yet another ten years into the future, part of me would have been surprised. I am a planner and a maker of to-do lists, and it has always been my plan to follow in the steps of my father and become a physician. This plan was derailed when I was called to active duty to serve in Iraq as part of the War on Terror.

I joined the National Guard before graduating high school and continued my service when I began college. My goal was to receive training that would be valuable for my future medical career, as I was working in the field of emergency health care. It was also a way to help me pay for college. When I was called to active duty in Iraq for my first deployment, I was forced to withdraw from school, and my deployment was subsequently extended. I spent a total of 24 months deployed overseas, where I provided in-the-field medical support to our combat troops. While the experience was invaluable not only in terms of my future medical career but also in terms of developing leadership and creative thinking skills, it put my undergraduate studies on hold for over two years. Consequently, my carefully-planned journey towards medical school and a medical career was thrown off course. Thus, while ten-year plans are valuable, I have learned from experience how easily such plans can dissolve in situations that are beyond one’s control, as well as the value of perseverance and flexibility.

Eventually, I returned to school. Despite my best efforts to graduate within two years, it took me another three years, as I suffered greatly from post-traumatic stress disorder following my time in Iraq. I considered abandoning my dream of becoming a physician altogether, since I was several years behind my peers with whom I had taken biology and chemistry classes before my deployment. Thanks to the unceasing encouragement of my academic advisor, who even stayed in contact with me when I was overseas, I gathered my strength and courage and began studying for the MCAT. To my surprise, my score was beyond satisfactory and while I am several years behind my original ten-year plan, I am now applying to Brown University’s School of Medicine.

I can describe my new ten-year plan, but I will do so with both optimism and also caution, knowing that I will inevitably face unforeseen complications and will need to adapt appropriately. One of the many insights I gained as a member of the National Guard and by serving in war-time was the incredible creativity medical specialists in the Armed Forces employ to deliver health care services to our wounded soldiers on the ground. I was part of a team that was saving lives under incredibly difficult circumstances—sometimes while under heavy fire and with only the most basic of resources. I am now interested in how I can use these skills to deliver health care in similar circumstances where basic medical infrastructure is lacking. While there is seemingly little in common between the deserts of Fallujah and rural Wyoming, where I’m currently working as a volunteer first responder in a small town located more than 60 miles from the nearest hospital, I see a lot of potential uses for the skills that I gained as a National Guardsman. As I learned from my father, who worked with Doctors Without Borders for a number of years, there is quite a bit in common between my field of knowledge from the military and working in post-conflict zones. I feel I have a unique experience from which to draw as I embark on my medical school journey, experiences that can be applied both here and abroad.

In ten years’ time, I hope to be trained in the field of emergency medicine, which, surprisingly, is a specialization that is actually lacking here in the United States as compared to similarly developed countries. I hope to conduct research in the field of health care infrastructure and work with government agencies and legislators to find creative solutions to improving access to emergency facilities in currently underserved areas of the United States, with an aim towards providing comprehensive policy reports and recommendations on how the US can once again be the world leader in health outcomes. While the problems inherent in our health care system are not one-dimensional and require a dynamic approach, one of the solutions as I see it is to think less in terms of state-of-the-art facilities and more in terms of access to primary care. Much of the care that I provide as a first responder and volunteer is extremely effective and also relatively cheap. More money is always helpful when facing a complex social and political problem, but we must think of solutions above and beyond more money and more taxes. In ten years I want to be a key player in the health care debate in this country and offering innovative solutions to delivering high quality and cost-effective health care to all our nation’s citizens, especially to those in rural and otherwise underserved areas.

Of course, my policy interests do not replace my passion for helping others and delivering emergency medicine. As a doctor, I hope to continue serving in areas of the country that, for one reason or another, are lagging behind in basic health care infrastructure. Eventually, I would also like to take my knowledge and talents abroad and serve in the Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders.

In short, I see the role of physicians in society as multifunctional: they are not only doctors who heal, they are also leaders, innovators, social scientists, and patriots. Although my path to medical school has not always been the most direct, my varied and circuitous journey has given me a set of skills and experiences that many otherwise qualified applicants lack. I have no doubt that the next ten years will be similarly unpredictable, but I can assure you that no matter what obstacles I face, my goal will remain the same. I sincerely hope to begin the next phase of my journey at Brown University. Thank you for your kind attention.

Additional Tips for a Successful Medical School Essay

• Regardless of the prompt, you should always address the question of why you want to go to medical school in your essay.
• Try to always give concrete examples rather than make general statements. If you say that you have perseverance, describe an event in your life that demonstrates perseverance.
• There should be an overall message or theme in your essay. In the example above, the theme is overcoming unexpected obstacles.
• Make sure you check and recheck for spelling and grammar!
• Unless you’re very sure you can pull it off, it is usually not a good idea to use humor or to employ the skills you learned in creative writing class in your personal statement. While you want to paint a picture, you don’t want to be too poetic or literary.
• Turn potential weaknesses into positives. As in the example above, address any potential weaknesses in your application and make them strengths, if possible. If you have low MCAT scores or something else that can’t be easily explained or turned into a positive, simply don’t mention it.

Medical School Essay Three

The roots of my desire to become a physician are, thankfully, not around the bedside of a sick family member or in a hospital, but rather on a 10-acre plot of land outside of a small town in Northwest Arkansas. I loved raising and exhibiting cattle, so every morning before the bus arrived at 7 a.m. I was in the barn feeding, checking cattle for any health issues and washing the show heifers. These early mornings and my experiences on a farm not only taught me the value of hard work, but ignited my interest in the body, albeit bovine at the time. It was by a working chute that I learned the functions of reproductive hormones as we utilized them for assisted reproduction and artificial insemination; it was by giving vaccinations to prevent infection that I learned about bacteria and the germ theory of disease; it was beside a stillborn calf before the sun had risen that I was exposed to the frailty of life.

Facing the realities of disease and death daily from an early age, I developed a strong sense of pragmatism out of necessity. There is no place for abstractions or euphemisms about life and death when treating a calf’s pneumonia in the pouring rain during winter. Witnessing the sometimes harsh realities of life on a farm did not instill within me an attitude of jaded inevitability of death. Instead, it germinated a responsibility to protect life to the best of my abilities, cure what ailments I can and alleviate as much suffering as possible while recognizing that sometimes nothing can be done.

I first approached human health at the age of nine through beef nutrition and food safety. Learning the roles of nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein and B-vitamins in the human body as well as the dangers of food-borne illness through the Beef Ambassador program shifted my interest in the body to a new species. Talking with consumers about every facet of the origins of food, I realized that the topics that most interested me were those that pertained to human health. In college, while I connected with people over samples of beef and answered their questions, I also realized that it is not enough simply to have adequate knowledge. Ultimately knowledge is of little use if it is not digestible to those who receive it. So my goal as a future clinical physician is not only to illuminate the source of an affliction and provide treatment for patients, but take care to ensure the need for understanding by both patient and family is met.

I saw this combination of care and understanding while volunteering in an emergency room, where I was also exposed to other aspects and players in the medical field. While assisting a nurse perform a bladder scan and witnessing technicians carry out an echocardiogram or CT scan, I learned the important roles that other professionals who do not wear white coats have in today’s medical field. Medicine is a team sport, and coordinating the efforts of each of these players is crucial for the successful execution of patient care. It is my goal to serve as the leader of this healthcare unit and unify a team of professionals to provide the highest quality care for patients. Perhaps most importantly my time at the VA showed me the power a smile and an open ear can have with people. On the long walk to radiology, talking with patients about their military service and families always seemed to take their mind off the reason for their visit, if only for a few minutes. This served as a reminder that we are helping people with pasts and dreams, rather than simply remedying patients’ symptoms.

Growing up in a small town, I never held aspirations of world travel when I was young. But my time abroad revealed to me the state of healthcare in developing countries and fostered a previously unknown interest in global health. During my first trip abroad to Ghana, my roommate became ill with a severe case of traveler’s diarrhea. In the rural north of the country near the Sahara, the options for healthcare were limited; he told me how our professor was forced to bribe employees to bypass long lines and even recounted how doctors took a bag of saline off the line of another patient to give to him. During a service trip to a rural community in Nicaragua, I encountered patients with preventable and easily treatable diseases that, due to poverty and lack of access, were left untreated for months or years at a time. I was discouraged by the state of healthcare in these countries and wondered what could be done to help. I plan to continue to help provide access to healthcare in rural parts of developing countries, and hopefully as a physician with an agricultural background I can approach public health and food security issues in a multifaceted and holistic manner.

My time on a cattle farm taught me how to work hard to pursue my interests, but also fueled my appetite for knowledge about the body and instilled within me a firm sense of practicality. Whether in a clinic, operating room or pursuing public and global health projects, I plan to bring this work ethic and pragmatism to all of my endeavors. My agricultural upbringing has produced a foundation of skills and values that I am confident will readily transplant into my chosen career. Farming is my early passion, but medicine is my future.

Medical School Essay Four

I am a white, cisgender, and heterosexual female who has been afforded many privileges: I was raised by parents with significant financial resources, I have traveled the world, and I received top-quality high school and college educations. I do not wish to be addressed or recognized in any special way; all I ask is to be treated with respect.

As for my geographic origin, I was born and raised in the rural state of Maine. Since graduating from college, I have been living in my home state, working and giving back to the community that has given me so much. I could not be happier here; I love the down-to-earth people, the unhurried pace of life, and the easy access to the outdoors. While I am certainly excited to move elsewhere in the country for medical school and continue to explore new places, I will always self-identify as a Mainer as being from Maine is something I take great pride in. I am proud of my family ties to the state (which date back to the 1890’s), I am proud of the state’s commitment to preserving its natural beauty, and I am particularly proud of my slight Maine accent (we don’t pronounce our r’s). From the rocky coastline and rugged ski mountains to the locally-grown food and great restaurants, it is no wonder Maine is nicknamed, "Vacationland.” Yet, Maine is so much more than just a tourist destination. The state is dotted with wonderful communities in which to live, communities like the one where I grew up.

Perhaps not surprisingly, I plan to return to Maine after residency. I want to raise a family and establish my medical practice here. We certainly could use more doctors! Even though Maine is a terrific place to live, the state is facing a significant doctor shortage. Today, we are meeting less than half of our need for primary care providers. To make matters worse, many of our physicians are close to retirement age. Yet, according to the AAMC, only 53 Maine residents matriculated into medical school last year! Undoubtedly, Maine is in need of young doctors who are committed to working long term in underserved areas. As my primary career goal is to return to my much adored home state and do my part to help fill this need, I have a vested interest in learning more about rural medicine during medical school.

I was raised in Cumberland, Maine, a coastal town of 7,000 just north of Portland. With its single stoplight and general store (where it would be unusual to visit without running into someone you know), Cumberland is the epitome of a small New England town. It truly was the perfect place to grow up. According to the most recent census, nearly a third of the town’s population is under 18 and more than 75% of households contain children, two statistics which speak to the family-centric nature of Cumberland’s community. Recently rated Maine's safest town, Cumberland is the type of place where you allow your kindergartener to bike alone to school, leave your house unlocked while at work, and bring home-cooked food to your sick neighbors and their children. Growing up in such a safe, close-knit, and supportive community instilled in me the core values of compassion, trustworthiness, and citizenship. These three values guide me every day and will continue to guide me through medical school and my career in medicine.

As a medical student and eventual physician, my compassion will guide me to become a provider who cares for more than just the physical well-being of my patients. I will also commit myself to my patients’ emotional, spiritual, and social well-being and make it a priority to take into account the unique values and beliefs of each patient. By also demonstrating my trustworthiness during every encounter, I will develop strong interpersonal relationships with those whom I serve. As a doctor once wisely said, “A patient does not care how much you know until he knows how much you care.”

My citizenship will guide me to serve my community and to encourage my classmates and colleagues to do the same. We will be taught in medical school to be healers, scientists, and educators. I believe that, in addition, as students and as physicians, we have the responsibility to use our medical knowledge, research skills, and teaching abilities to benefit more than just our patients. We must also commit ourselves to improving the health and wellness of those living in our communities by participating in public events (i.e by donating our medical services), lobbying for better access to healthcare for the underprivileged, and promoting wellness campaigns. As a medical student and eventual physician, my compassion, trustworthiness, and citizenship will drive me to improve the lives of as many individuals as I can.

Cumberland instilled in me important core values and afforded me a wonderful childhood. However, I recognize that my hometown is not perfect. For one, the population is shockingly homogenous, at least as far as demographics go. As of the 2010 census, 97.2% of the residents of Cumberland were white. Only 4.1% of residents speak a language other than English at home and even fewer were born in another country. Essentially everybody who identified with a religion identified as some denomination of Christian. My family was one of maybe five Jewish families in the town. Additionally, nearly all the town’s residents graduated from high school (98.1%), are free of disability (93.8%), and live above the poverty line (95.8%). Efforts to attract diverse families to Cumberland is one improvement that I believe would make the community a better place in which to live. Diversity in background (and in thought) is desirable in any community as living, learning, and working alongside diverse individuals helps us develop new perspectives, enhances our social development, provides us with a larger frame of reference, and improves our understanding of our place in society.

Medical School Essay Five

“How many of you received the flu vaccine this year?” I asked my Bricks 4 Kidz class, where I volunteer to teach elementary students introductory science and math principles using Lego blocks. “What’s a flu vaccine?” they asked in confusion. Surprised, I briefly explained the influenza vaccine and its purpose for protection. My connection to children and their health extends to medical offices, clinics and communities where I have gained experience and insight into medicine, confirming my goal of becoming a physician.

My motivation to pursue a career in medicine developed when my mother, who was diagnosed with Lupus, underwent a kidney transplant surgery and suffered multiple complications. I recall the fear and anxiety I felt as a child because I misunderstood her chronic disease. This prompted me to learn more about the science of medicine. In high school, I observed patients plagued with acute and chronic kidney disease while briefly exploring various fields of medicine through a Mentorship in Medicine summer program at my local hospital. In addition to shadowing nephrologists in a hospital and clinical setting, I scrubbed into the operating room, viewed the radiology department, celebrated the miracle of birth in the delivery room, and quietly observed a partial autopsy in pathology. I saw many patients confused about their diagnoses. I was impressed by the compassion of the physicians and the time they took to reassure and educate their patients.

Further experiences in medicine throughout and after college shaped a desire to practice in underserved areas. While coloring and reading with children in the patient area at a Family Health Center, I witnessed family medicine physicians diligently serve patients from low-income communities. On a medical/dental mission trip to the Philippines, I partnered with local doctors to serve and distribute medical supplies to rural schools and communities. At one impoverished village, I held a malnourished two-year old boy suffering from cerebral palsy and cardiorespiratory disease. His family could not afford to take him to the nearest pediatrician, a few hours away by car, for treatment. Overwhelmed, I cried as we left the village. Many people were suffering through pain and disease due to limited access to medicine. But this is not rare; there are many people suffering due to inadequate access/accessibility around the world, even in my hometown. One physician may not be able to change the status of underserved communities, however, one can alleviate some of the suffering.

Dr. X, my mentor and supervisor, taught me that the practice of medicine is both a science and an art. As a medical assistant in a pediatric office, I am learning about the patient-physician relationship and the meaningful connection with people that medicine provides. I interact with patients and their families daily. Newborn twins were one of the first patients I helped, and I look forward to seeing their development at successive visits. A young boy who endured a major cardiac surgery was another patient I connected with, seeing his smiling face in the office often as he transitioned from the hospital to his home. I also helped many excited, college-bound teenagers with requests for medical records in order to matriculate. This is the art of medicine – the ability to build relationships with patients and have an important and influential role in their lives, from birth to adulthood and beyond.

In addition, medicine encompasses patient-centered care, such as considering and addressing concerns. While taking patient vitals, I grew discouraged when parents refused the influenza vaccine and could not understand their choices. With my experience in scientific research, I conducted an informal yet insightful study. Over one hundred families were surveyed about their specific reasons for refusing the flu vaccine. I sought feedback on patients’ level of understanding about vaccinations and its interactions with the human immune system. Through this project, I learned the importance of understanding patient’s concerns in order to reassure them through medicine. I also learned the value of communicating with patients, such as explaining the purpose of a recommended vaccine. I hope to further this by attending medical school to become a physician focused on patient-centered care, learning from and teaching my community.

Children have been a common thread in my pursuit of medicine, from perceiving medicine through child-like eyes to interacting daily with children in a medical office. My diverse experiences in patient interaction and the practice of medicine inspire me to become a physician, a path that requires perseverance and passion. Physicians are life-long learners and teachers, educating others whether it is on vaccinations or various diseases. This vocation also requires preparation, and I eagerly look forward to continually learning and growing in medical school and beyond.

To learn more about what to expect from the study of medicine, check out our Study Medicine in the US section.

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How To Avoid The 5 Most Common Medical Essay Writing Mistakes

Some of the most common medical essay writing mistakes can be avoided with proper planning, practice and presentation. Here’s how to improve your essay writing skills and give yourself the best chance of writing a winning essay on exam day.

1. PAY ATTENTION TO ESSAY STRUCTURE

The traditional essay structure includes three key sections: an introduction, several paragraphs outlining the core arguments, and a conclusion.

Your introduction should briefly outline what the essay will cover. Within this, you should include a ‘thesis statement’ which articulates the main idea or argument of your essay.

The body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence, which outlines the focus of the paragraph, and the following sentences in the paragraph need to develop the idea in the topic sentence with clear evidence and examples. Finally, aim to wrap up everything nicely in your conclusion without repeating any arguments or introducing new ideas.

If you stick to this essay formula, your arguments will be clear and well-structured – with plenty room for development.

Some tips to help you pay attention to the essay structure include:

• Plan – before you start writing, sketch out a plan which includes notes for the three key sections
• Write your introduction last – writing the ‘perfect’ introduction can take up a lot of time and energy – particularly when you’re writing under pressure; writing your introduction last can be helpful because you already know exactly what your essay will be about
• Practice – make sure you have written several practice essays in the traditional essay format before you start and try to get your hands on some samples – so you have a comparable standard

2. WORK ON YOUR GRAMMAR, SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION

Spelling and grammatical errors can result in lost points, regardless of how strong your ideas are. Having good ideas is one thing, but articulating them clearly is something else entirely.

If English is your second language, take time to learn and study the craft of writing. Read other people’s writing and study sentence structure. Develop your vocabulary in general but also in relation to the subject you’re writing about.

Tips to help you improve your writing skills include:

• Read widely – read articles, textbooks and writing in your medical field as well as outside it
• Develop your vocabulary – read a variety of medical materials so you can enhance your medical terminology and understand how these terms are used in context
• Practice – again, you will only be able to develop your writing skills and vocabulary through practice, practice, and more practice

3. STAY FOCUSED

Sometimes, you might feel tempted to write about a topic or idea you’re comfortable with, instead of addressing what the essay question is about. You could write an amazing essay, but if it doesn’t address the essay question or topic then you will lose marks.

Tips to help you stay focused and ensure you are adequately addressing the essay question include:

• Circle the keywords in the question – look at the themes and ideas in these keywords and use these to help you develop your focus
• Don’t try to rewrite past essays – try not to rewrite any practice essays you may have written in the past (unless they are 100% relevant to the topic)
• Practice brainstorming – get your hands on some essay questions or quotes and practice the brainstorming aspect to help it seem less daunting

4. ADDRESS THE KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Whenever you write an essay as part of your exams, there will be specific criteria that your essay marker will use to assess your essay. It’s vital you familiarise yourself with this criterion and keep it top of mind when you’re writing your essay.

The essay writing criteria contains general requirements like proper grammar, being able to demonstrate a range of arguments related to the topic, and a clear conclusion. But it will also include discipline-specific requirements, such as discussions of the socio-political, historical and cultural themes related to your medical field and being able to demonstrate an understanding of the recovery model, for example.

Tips to help you address the key selection criteria include:

• Think of the criteria as a checklist – and confirm you have ticked off everything in the list before you can submit your essay
• Ensure you have the latest criteria – criteria can change, so be certain that you’re referring to the latest version when you’re practicing
• Write practice essays that address the key selection criteria – if you haven’t practiced writing an essay that addresses the criteria before your final essay, you may struggle to do this on the day

5. STAY CALM ON EXAM DAY

It’s normal to have some nerves on exam day, but if you find yourself in a panic, you might procrastinate, ramble or struggle to formulate clear sentences.

The more you practice essay writing, the more confident in your abilities you’ll become – meaning you’ll be more likely to cope with any type of question that comes your way on the big day.

Tips to help you stay calm include:

• Deep breathing – if you’re feeling very anxious, put down your pen, close your eyes and take a series of deep breaths until the feeling passes
• Stay positive – when negative thoughts arise they can make you feel stressed and anxious, so develop a series of positive messages to help you overcome your nerves
• Practice writing under pressure – the best way to reduce the likelihood of nerves jeopardising your success is to practice under strict exam conditions

Other tips to help you improve your medical essay writing skills

• Pay attention to your handwriting – clear handwriting wins over poor handwriting every time, so pay attention to your handwriting, and practice writing clearly
• Be consistent with your tense – choose one tense, usually third person – you may not lose marks for writing in the first person but generally third person is more formal, convincing and relevant to the academic style
• Opt for quality over quantity – don’t assume that more words will get you more marks; you’ll be marked on the quality of your arguments, how convincing they are and how well they address the key selection criteria
• Avoid unnecessary complications – awkward vocabulary, long sentences and complex terminology can all complicate your essay and make it harder for your examiner to understand your ideas

For almost two years, I’ve been helping Psych Scene course candidates to improve their medical essay writing skills with training, personalised feedback and suggestions for improvement on their practice essays. If you’d like some help with your essay, please contact me.

Medical School Examples

Craft a Winning Medical School Essay with Examples and Proven Tips

Published on: May 8, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Are you dreaming of becoming a doctor or a health care professional? 

The first step towards achieving that goal is to get accepted into a top-tier medical school. 

But with so many other qualified medical students competing for the same spot, how do you stand out from the crowd? 

It all starts with your medical school essay. 

Your essay is your opportunity to your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations. 

In this blog, we'll provide you with examples that will help you catch the attention of admissions committees. 

From purpose to common mistakes to avoid, we'll cover everything you need to get accepted into the medical school of your dreams. 

So, let's dive in!

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Types of Medical School Examples 

Medical school essays come in many different forms, each with its own unique requirements and purpose.

In this section, we'll discuss some of the most common types of medical school essays and what you need to know to write them successfully.

Personal Statements 

Personal statements are the most common type of medical school essay. They are usually a one-page essay that introduces you to the admissions officers. 

It explains why you want to pursue medicine as a career. Personal statements should be engaging, and memorable, and show off your unique qualities.

An outline offers a framework to help you craft a compelling narrative that showcases your strengths and experiences.

Check out this personal statement example that can help future physicians getting into the schools of their dreams.

Medical School Personal Statement Examples pdf

Secondary Essays 

Secondary essays are additional essays that some medical schools require in addition to the personal statement. 

They often ask specific questions about your background, experiences, or interests. They give you an opportunity to show off your future patient care and problem-solving skills.

Here is a brief example of a secondary application medical school essay:

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Diversity Essays 

Diversity essays ask you to write about your experiences with diversity and how they have influenced you to pursue a career and your interest in medicine. 

These essays are becoming increasingly common in medical school applications as schools strive to build a more diverse and inclusive student body.

Good Medical School Essay Examples 

Are you struggling to write a standout medical school essay? They say that the best way to learn is by example. That's especially true when it comes to public health school essays. 

We'll provide you with some of the best examples to help you craft an essay that will help your career in medicine.

Medical College Essay Examples

Personal Statement Medical School Examples Pdf

Medical School Covid Essay Examples

Challenging Medical School Essay Examples 

Writing a medical school essay is more than just telling a story about yourself. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking and analytical skills. 

In this section, we'll highlight some of the challenging medical school essay examples. This will give you a sense of what admissions committees are looking for. You can learn how to exceed those expectations by writing a successful medical school essay.

Greatest Challenge Medical School Essay Examples

Successful Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Scholarship Essay Examples

Medical School Essay Examples for Different Schools 

Each medical school has its own unique mission, values, and admissions criteria, and your essay should reflect that. 

In this section, we'll explore how to tailor your medical school essay for different schools and showcase some examples of successful essays.

Let’s explore these Stanford and Harvard medical school essay examples:

Medical School Personal Statement Examples Harvard

Medical School Personal Statement Examples Stanford

Tips on Crafting an Excellent Medical School Personal Statement 

The medical school personal statement is your opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences. 

Here are some tips to help you craft an excellent personal statement:

Start Early 

Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your personal statement. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay. Starting early also allows you to get feedback from mentors, professors, or peers.

Focus on Your Story 

Your personal statement should tell a story that showcases your journey to medicine. Highlight the experiences and qualities that have led you to pursue a career in medicine. Tell them how you plan to use your skills to make a difference.

Be Specific 

Use specific examples to illustrate your experiences and achievements. Don't just list your accomplishments, but show how they have prepared you for a career in medicine. Use concrete details to make your essay more engaging and memorable.

Show, Don't Tell 

Instead of simply stating your qualities, show them through your experiences and actions. For example, don’t say you're a team player. Describe a time when you worked effectively in a team to achieve a goal.

Tailor Your Essay to the School 

As mentioned earlier, each medical school has its own unique mission and values. Tailor your personal statement to each school to demonstrate your fit with their program and values.

Mistakes to Avoid in a Medical School Personal Statement 

When it comes to your medical school personal statement, there are some common mistakes you should avoid:

Avoid using cliched phrases and ideas that are overused in personal statements. Admissions committees want to see your unique perspective and experiences. They do not want generic statements that could apply to anyone.

Negativity 

Don't focus on negative experiences or aspects of your life in your personal statement. Instead, focus on your strengths and how you have grown from challenges.

Lack of Focus 

Make sure your personal statement has a clear focus and theme. Don't try to cover too many topics or experiences in one essay. Instead, focus on one or two experiences that are meaningful to you and illustrate your journey to medicine.

Too Formal or Informal Tone 

Make sure your personal statement strikes the right tone. Avoid being too formal or using overly complex language. Also, avoid being too informal or using slang.

Plagiarism 

Never copy someone else's personal statement or use a template to write your own. Admissions committees can easily spot plagiarism, and it will result in an immediate rejection.

Grammatical and Spelling Errors

Proofread your personal statement thoroughly for grammatical and spelling errors. Even a few small errors can detract from the overall quality of your essay.

Lack of Authenticity 

Be true to yourself in your personal statement. Don't try to present an image of yourself that is not authentic or that you think the admissions committee wants to see. Be honest and genuine in your writing.

In conclusion, crafting a winning medical school essay is a crucial step toward securing admission to the medical school of your dreams. 

This blog has provided examples of essays along with tips to craft an excellent medical school personal statement. By avoiding mistakes, you can increase your chances of standing out from the crowd and impressing the admissions committee. 

Struggling with your medical school essays or college papers? Look no further!

Our college paper writing service specializes in crafting exceptional papers tailored to your academic needs, including medical school essays. And for an extra boost in your writing tasks, don't forget to explore our AI essay generator .

Elevate your academic performance with our medical school essay writing service and unlock the potential of our AI essay tools.

Get started today!

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

What is the ideal med school personal statement word limit.

There is no set length for a medical school personal statement, but most schools typically require a personal statement of 500-800 words.

How do I choose a topic for my medical school essay?

Choose a topic that showcases your unique perspective and experiences, and illustrates your journey to medicine. Consider what makes you stand out and what you are passionate about.

Should I mention my grades and test scores in my medical school essay?

It is not necessary to mention your grades and test scores in your medical school essay as they are already included in your application. Instead, focus on showcasing your unique qualities, experiences, and perspective.

Can I get help with writing my medical school essay?

Yes, there are various resources available to help you with writing your medical school essay. Consider seeking help from a writing tutor, career services office, or professional writing service like ours.

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How to Write a Medical School Essay

• Sasha Chada
• November 14, 2022

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Applying to medical school is hard; to help you out, we wrote a detailed guide which goes through the process step by step. Part of this process, just as when you applied to college, is writing essays. While these are similar in some ways to the essays you had to write while applying to undergrad, there are a number of key differences. 

In this article we’ll go through what the different kinds of medical school essays are, and what medical schools are looking for in them. Just as with your college essays, you’ll need to spend significant time brainstorming, writing, and editing these essays. Let’s get started!

The Personal Statement

Just like the Common App, the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) requires applicants to compose a personal statement. Not all medical schools require this, but the vast majority do, and just as with college applications, it is a key component of your application. Here is their prompt: 

• Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school. (5,300 characters)

This is a very vague prompt, and of a long-ish length (approximately 500 words). We recommend writing the essay in a program that easily lets you track character count, to make sure you end up within the limits.

The prompt is vague on purpose. Admissions officers want to give you leeway to answer with the most relevant information to you and to your story. This openness can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a great opportunity. 

What you end up writing about is up to you, but should reflect your own personal journey to medicine. The main challenge students face is writing an essay which covers all the needed ground without being cliche. This is because there are only so many reasons people have for applying to medical school, and admissions officers have heard many of these stories thousands of times before. 

In order to prevent your essay from being lost in an undifferentiated mass, you need to be as specific and authentic as possible. Avoid using generic terms and motivations, and examine deeply why your experiences lead you to apply to medical school. Why do you want to help people? Why do you want to use medicine to do so?

Your personal statement should demonstrate the traits admissions officers want to see in applicants: a desire to help, the ability to communicate, compassion and curiosity, and a level of resilience in the face of pressure and adversity. Do not merely tell admissions officers you have these traits: demonstrate them through the details you include in the essay.

When writing your own statement therefore, you need to consider which of these traits you best embody, and which of your experiences have best demonstrated them. If these experiences relate to the field of medicine as well, all the better. There is no such thing as a perfect topic or essay, but you can write a strong one, and that is often the difference between acceptance and rejection if your numbers are good.

Supplemental Essays

Just as with undergraduate applications , different medical schools ask for different supplemental essays. The number of essays each school asks for, the specific prompts, and the length of each varies greatly. There are, however, a limited number of topics, so it is quite easy to reuse an essay you have written for one school to answer another school’s prompt with only some editing in between.

Here are the most common essay topics: 

We’ll go through each in turn, and explore what colleges are looking for with each, and how you should approach them. 

This essay question is not always directly related to diversity in your own background, but instead to gauge your level of empathy, cultural competency, and ability to work with populations who are significantly different from yourself. 

This does not mean you need to be a member of a minority group, or that you need to claim to understand every particular experience of one of these groups. Instead, talking about an extracurricular experience, personal identity, or other experience which demonstrates these traits is the best way to proceed. 

It can be easy to fall into cliche, especially if talking about working with the underprivileged. We recommend using authentic details of your experiences. The more concrete the details you provide, the better admissions officers will understand you, and the more your essay will stand out from the rest they have to read.

Just like colleges, medical schools love asking this question. The goal is to understand why you want to attend their institution in particular, and why their institution will best serve your goals within medicine. 

This means that you should not simply write about how great the medical school is. Admissions officers work there; presumably, they already know how great the school is and don’t need you to tell them. Instead, you should focus on the slightly different question of why the school is great for you. 

This means researching the various programs and special services the school offers, the professors and research labs you want to work with, and how you will make use of these in your academic career. 

There are resources like these at most schools; while these essays will require more legwork to research and to write, they are just as cross-applicable as any other med school supplemental. 

This essay covers a challenging problem or situation you faced, and how you overcame it. Medical school is not easy, and the challenges you will face in a career of medicine are often literally matters of life and death. The purpose of this question, therefore, is to see how you respond to adverse circumstances, and measure your maturity and responsibility for the rigors of medicine.

The important part is less the specific challenge you responded to, but instead what it says about you. They want to see how you react under pressure, how you deal with stress, that you attempt to resolve issues, and what you learned from the experience as a whole. 

Students often worry that they have not faced any significant challenges, and thus will be unable to respond to this essay. You must remember that you are not being evaluated on the scope of the challenge you are overcome, but instead on how you mentally dealt with the stresses of the challenge. While you should not write about something trivial, any experience which caused you genuine stress can make for a good essay here. As always, authenticity is key. 

These essays are generally straightforward in their prompts, asking how you have shown leadership before, or to talk about one of your experiences with leadership. The goal here is not just to show that you can take charge, but to demonstrate responsibility. 

Doctors are responsible for many things, and those who enter medical school need to demonstrate a history of assuming responsibility. The best way to do this is often leadership positions in extracurriculars, but taking responsibility in less official capacities is also acceptable for this essay.

These essays are also a good way to discuss your extracurricular experiences. If you had to step up as a TA, or were assigned responsibilities in a research setting, these can make for good essays. While your essay does not have to relate directly to the field, it is a good chance to do so, to demonstrate multiple facets of your experience. 

Final Thoughts

As with undergraduate essays, medical school essays are what set apart great candidates in a field. Academic achievement is the baseline expected by medical schools, while essays and interviews are how admissions officers differentiate candidates who are a good fit for their programs from the ones who aren’t. We hope that this article has provided a solid introduction to these essays, and given you guidance on writing your own.

Medical school admissions is quite competitive, even compared to undergraduate admissions. There are no guarantees, and no way to ensure you will be accepted. We hope that this article helps you on your way, and invite you to check out our guide to med school admissions , and guide for pre-meds , for more information. If you would like to work with us on your med school essays, schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you.

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How to Write a Medical Research Paper

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD . Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 201,912 times.

Writing a medical research paper is similar to writing other research papers in that you want to use reliable sources, write in a clear and organized style, and offer a strong argument for all conclusions you present. In some cases the research you discuss will be data you have actually collected to answer your research questions. Understanding proper formatting, citations, and style will help you write and informative and respected paper.

Researching Your Paper

• Pick something that really interests you to make the research more fun.
• Choose a topic that has unanswered questions and propose solutions.

• Quantitative studies consist of original research performed by the writer. These research papers will need to include sections like Hypothesis (or Research Question), Previous Findings, Method, Limitations, Results, Discussion, and Application.
• Synthesis papers review the research already published and analyze it. They find weaknesses and strengths in the research, apply it to a specific situation, and then indicate a direction for future research.

• Keep track of your sources. Write down all publication information necessary for citation: author, title of article, title of book or journal, publisher, edition, date published, volume number, issue number, page number, and anything else pertaining to your source. A program like Endnote can help you keep track of your sources.
• Take detailed notes as you read. Paraphrase information in your own words or if you copy directly from the article or book, indicate that these are direct quotes by using quotation marks to prevent plagiarism.
• Be sure to keep all of your notes with the correct source.
• Your professor and librarians can also help you find good resources.

• Keep all of your notes in a physical folder or in a digitized form on the computer.
• Start to form the basic outline of your paper using the notes you have collected.

Writing Your Paper

• Start with bullet points and then add in notes you've taken from references that support your ideas. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
• A common way to format research papers is to follow the IMRAD format. This dictates the structure of your paper in the following order: I ntroduction, M ethods, R esults, a nd D iscussion. [2] X Research source
• The outline is just the basic structure of your paper. Don't worry if you have to rearrange a few times to get it right.
• Ask others to look over your outline and get feedback on the organization.
• Know the audience you are writing for and adjust your style accordingly. [3] X Research source

• Use a standard font type and size, such as Times New Roman 12 point font.
• Double-space your paper.
• If necessary, create a cover page. Most schools require a cover page of some sort. Include your main title, running title (often a shortened version of your main title), author's name, course name, and semester.

• Break up information into sections and subsections and address one main point per section.
• Include any figures or data tables that support your main ideas.
• For a quantitative study, state the methods used to obtain results.

• Clearly state and summarize the main points of your research paper.
• Discuss how this research contributes to the field and why it is important. [4] X Research source
• Highlight potential applications of the theory if appropriate.
• Propose future directions that build upon the research you have presented. [5] X Research source
• Keep the introduction and discussion short, and spend more time explaining the methods and results.

• State why the problem is important to address.
• Discuss what is currently known and what is lacking in the field.
• State the objective of your paper.
• Keep the introduction short.

• Highlight the purpose of the paper and the main conclusions.
• State why your conclusions are important.
• Be concise in your summary of the paper.
• Show that you have a solid study design and a high-quality data set.
• Abstracts are usually one paragraph and between 250 – 500 words.

• Unless otherwise directed, use the American Medical Association (AMA) style guide to properly format citations.
• Add citations at end of a sentence to indicate that you are using someone else's idea. Use these throughout your research paper as needed. They include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number.
• Compile your reference list and add it to the end of your paper.
• Use a citation program if you have access to one to simplify the process.

• Continually revise your paper to make sure it is structured in a logical way.
• Proofread your paper for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Make sure you are following the proper formatting guidelines provided for the paper.
• Have others read your paper to proofread and check for clarity. Revise as needed.

Expert Q&A

• Ask your professor for help if you are stuck or confused about any part of your research paper. They are familiar with the style and structure of papers and can provide you with more resources. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Refer to your professor's specific guidelines. Some instructors modify parts of a research paper to better fit their assignment. Others may request supplementary details, such as a synopsis for your research project . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Set aside blocks of time specifically for writing each day. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is using someone else's work, words, or ideas and presenting them as your own. It is important to cite all sources in your research paper, both through internal citations and on your reference page. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

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• ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178846/
• ↑ http://owl.excelsior.edu/research-and-citations/outlining/outlining-imrad/
• ↑ http://china.elsevier.com/ElsevierDNN/Portals/7/How%20to%20write%20a%20world-class%20paper.pdf
• ↑ http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/3/191
• ↑ http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html#form

About This Article

To write a medical research paper, research your topic thoroughly and compile your data. Next, organize your notes and create a strong outline that breaks up the information into sections and subsections, addressing one main point per section. Write the results and discussion sections first to go over your findings, then write the introduction to state your objective and provide background information. Finally, write the abstract, which concisely summarizes the article by highlighting the main points. For tips on formatting and using citations, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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6 Tips for Writing Your AMCAS® Personal Comments Essay

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The Personal Comments Essay section of the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) application is your opportunity to tell medical school admissions officers who you are and what makes you unique. Here are some tips to help you as you write your essay.

The AMCAS® application to medical school asks for a lot of information about yourself. It includes biographical information, courses taken, and work experiences just to name a few.  The application also requires you to include a Personal Comments Essay, which is entered in Section 8 of the application. This essay provides an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants and provide admissions officers with more insight into why you have chosen to pursue a career in medicine.

Many admissions committees place significant weight on this section, so we have compiled a list of tips to help you craft a well-organized and compelling essay.

• Take time to think about the content of your essay before writing a first draft. As you’re thinking about the structure of your essay, remember to keep the content general because it will go to all medical schools you apply to. Try not to duplicate information provided elsewhere in the application. Some questions you may want to consider before you begin writing include: What are some of your personal values and how have they influenced your desire to enter the medical profession? What motivates you to learn more about medicine? What should medical schools know about you that isn’t described in other sections of the application?
• Show, don't tell.  If challenges in your childhood or a defining experience led you to consider medicine, use details to describe those experiences and bring your essay to life. Try to include content that aligns with the premed competencies for entering medical students . Write in your authentic voice; your essay can help you contextualize and elaborate on topics during your interview.
• Stay on topic. There is a 5,300 character limit (including spaces) in this section. This equals about 1 1/2 pages of writing, single-spaced.  Make sure your essay is interesting, follows a logical and orderly flow, relates to your reasons for choosing medicine, and describes why you believe you will be successful as a physician.
• Don’t be afraid of the editing process.  Be sure to write more than one draft and make edits to your essay. Find a reviewer who does not have a personal relationship with you, as an external reviewer will help you gain new perspectives on your writing and refine the story you want to tell admissions committees.
• Remember to proofread and be mindful of formatting. The AMCAS application does not include spell check, so be sure to proofread your essay for any typos or grammatical errors. You will not be able to go back into this section to make any edits after submitting your application. To avoid formatting issues, we recommend that you draft your essay in text-only word processing software, such as Microsoft Notepad or Mac TextEdit, then copy and paste your essay into the application. You can also type your essay directly into the AMCAS application.
• If you are applying to MD-PhD programs, there are two additional essays you will need to complete. The first essay asks your reasons for pursuing the combined degree and is relatively short. The second essay asks you to describe your research activities and is about three pages long. You can read more about these additional essays in the 2024 AMCAS® Applicant Guide (PDF) or get further guidance from your prehealth advisor or career counselor.

For more AMCAS-related tips, please check out the AMCAS Tools and Tutorials page . There, you’ll find video tutorials, presentations, guides, and recordings of past webinars. For further advice from current prehealth advisors, access our “Advisor Corner: Crafting Your Personal Statement” article .

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The Complete Guide to Medical Writing

The Complete Guide to Medical Writing. Mark C. Stuart, editor. London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press. 2007. 491p. $39.95. ISBN: 978-0-85369-667-4

Readers may use articles without permission of copyright owners, as long as the author and MLA are acknowledged and the use is educational and not for profit.

This multiauthored work is from the Pharmaceutical Press (PhP), the publishing arm of the “Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain founded in 1841. The Society is the regulatory and professional body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. Its primary objective is to lead, regulate and develop the pharmacy profession” [ 1 ]. The book is indeed complete and speaks to novice writers or students who may be new to the health professions, as well as knowledgeable clinicians and researchers who need help compiling examination questions, writing press releases, or adding publications to their resumes.

The editor is clinical editor for BMJ Clinical Evidence, and the foreword is written by Julia Forjanic Klapproth, vice president of the European Medical Writers Association. Most of the more than twenty authors work in Britain, three are from Malta, one is Australian, and, finally, there is the Plain English Campaign. Nearly all are trained in some aspect of pharmaceutics, though they cover a wide range of topics. One is a qualified librarian. The authority of the PhP and the wide range of expertise and experience among the authors give the reader confidence.

The Complete Guide does not just discuss how to write. It describes every aspect of the medical literature and publishing world. The chapters are collected into six sections that discuss medical writing essentials, reviews and reports, medical journalism and mass media, medical writing in education, medical writing for medical professionals, and medical publishing. It appeals to medical novices who are called on to write but need a better understanding of medicine itself, as well as seasoned clinicians, academics, and researchers who need a better, deeper understanding of the types of writing.

The book is designed to be used as a textbook. Chapters provide many summaries, bulleted lists of major points, questions and answers, and other material such as “Further Reading,” “Useful Resources,” “Glossary,” and “Useful Websites.” “Writing” is used loosely to include live presentations, radio programs, slide shows, advertising and posters, and online research.

Much of the advice is very practical (how to print and bind a thesis), and some is amusing (asking grandma to write down her chocolate cake recipe), but the book is packed with facts and examples. Some of the “typical” document examples are British, but this does not detract from its usefulness.

Besides a thorough back-of-the-book index, the book has useful appendixes of “Common Medical Abbreviations,” “Measurements,” “Normal Values for Common Laboratory Tests,” “Proof Correctional Marks,” and “A to Z of Medical Terms in Plain English.” This last contains many British spellings, but most readers should not find this a problem, especially because British journals and websites are widely read and used, and the few Greek diphthongs (oedema, gynaecology) are easily grasped.

The British origin of the publication, however, may be its only drawback. This will depend on how much the reader needs certain parts of the book. Discussion of ethics, copyright, style, appropriateness of audience, organization of content, various forums for one's efforts—all of these are universal and provide much interesting and useful background. However, if one is preparing a news item for release to the press, the sources on page 423 are of little use outside the United Kingdom. This may be minor compared to the otherwise excellent “Checklist for Writing Press Releases” (p. 186) and the thorough discussion of “Principles of Good Advertising” that begin chapter 12 (pp. 176–).

This reviewer expected considerable discussion of the professional literature, writing of theses, academic material, and similar and indeed was not disappointed. Highlights from the book, which rather surprised this reviewer in their novelty, included “Differences in Writing for Magazines and Newspapers” and “Important Points to Consider when Writing for the Lay Press” (pp. 156–) and “The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 2005” and “Writing Style for Websites” (pp. 416–).

Anyone involved in the health professions, whether readers or writers, will appreciate and enjoy this book. While not as much fun as Eats, Shoots and Leaves [ 2 ], it is easier to navigate than the excellent reference, The Chicago Manual of Style [ 3 ], and is a joy to read by any lover of language and its many applications.

• Pharmaceutical Press [web document] . The Press. [3 Jul 2007]. < http://www.pharmpress.com >. [ Google Scholar ]
• Truss L. Eats, shoots and leaves . Penguin Group, 2006. [ Google Scholar ]
• University of Chicago Press Staff, ed. The Chicago manual of style. 15th ed . Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2003. [ Google Scholar ]

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16 R’s for Medical School Essay Writing

Writing can be daunting for all of us. “What do I write about?” is the most common question that comes to mind when contemplating medical school personal statements or secondary essays. When writing these essays, organization is crucial. The thought of writing an essay up to 5300 characters long for AMCAS or several pages long for secondary essay prompts can feel like a Herculean task. Furthermore, these compositions can be the end of your application if not approached correctly. To help with organizing your essays, I have broken down the process into sixteen R’s.

OK. Let’s get started! 

• Relax : Writing is challenging enough, but when you are tense and stressed, it feels impossible. Listen to soothing music, do a favorite exercise before you sit down to write, or try a little yoga. Getting into a relaxed mindset can help you think about all the experiences that brought you to your decision to pursue medicine.
• Recreational : Make your essay writing recreationa l or fun. “Fun?” you may ask. How can essay writing be fun? Well, I think the beloved fictional character Mary Poppins was not too far off the mark when she said, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Since you will be spending a significant amount of time writing your medical school essays , making them as fun as possible is indispensable. Pretending that you are a famous physician in an interview on the news or a celebrity looking back on your life and writing your memoirs can help bring your creative thoughts to mind. 

• Recite , Rehearse , and Record : “Where do I start?” is another common question. Describing your thoughts aloud and reciting and rehearsing them before you put them down on paper can help a great deal to get those “creative juices flowing.” You don’t need anything fancy to record your thoughts—your smartphone will work perfectly well. If it helps, have some soft, pensive music playing in the background as long as it is not distracting. And remember that how you express yourself doesn’t need to be perfect because the only person that will hear the recording is you. This is just an exercise to help you get those thoughts flowing before putting them down on paper. You’ll be surprised at how helpful listening to your recording is to jump-start your writing. 
• Readable : Your essay should capture the reader’s attention from the opening sentence and maintain that interest throughout the text. Try to make the reader feel as if they are there with you, experiencing what you felt. 
• Rich : You should use rich , descriptive language so that you take the reader on your “expedition.” Let the reader feel like they are “traveling” with you and experiencing what you experienced. 
• Retell : In addition, your essay should elaborate on critical details in your story; if your essay has not elaborated on these details, retell your story and expand upon the important events so that the reader has a perfect picture in their mind of what took place. By doing so, you will put the reader in your story and make it come alive for them.
• Rhythm : Your essay should have rhythm —it should be well organized both within and between paragraphs, and each section should be well connected to the others with smooth transitions. 
• Relevance : Given the character limits of your medical school essays, every word and sentence should be relevant . Don’t waste critical character space on sentences that are not pertinent to your story. In the case of secondary essays, make sure your answer is relevant to the question asked and the school you are applying to.
• Relate and Reply : For both the personal statement and each secondary essay, the experiences you write about in your body paragraphs should relate to each other in some way so that you have an over-arching theme for your essay. Find the common denominator between your experiences to help find your theme. For your secondary essays, you must reply to the specific question posed.
• Research : When writing your secondary essays, make sure you research the schools to ensure that your goals are a good match for their guiding principles.
• Reveal : Furthermore, your writing should reveal different qualities that will make you an outstanding physician . The best essays are heartfelt and evoke emotion. 
• Reflective : Perhaps, the most necessary characteristic of your essay is to be reflective . Your essay should reflect on the meaningful experiences that were pivotal in your decision to pursue medicine or apply to specific medical schools. Ask yourself why a particular experience made you feel as you did and how you will assimilate the spirit of what you learned from the experience into your future career. Why is it significant to you?
• Refine : Another essential step in your essay writing is to refine your language. For our first draft, don’t worry about style. But after you write that first draft, review it and aim for a tone and style that shows you’re already a professional. Write your essay with a professional writing style and avoid slang or colloquial sayings. This is not social media.
• Return , Refer , and Remind : Coming to the home stretch, you should return to the introduction in your essay’s conclusion and refer back to the introductory paragraph in some way to end your essay on a powerful note and remind the reader of the significance of the opening paragraph in your decision to become a physician.
• Review : The final step in writing your essay is to review your essay several times once you finish it. Review , review , review should become your essay writing slogan. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to review your essay multiple times for spelling, grammatical, and writing errors. For secondaries , make sure you have the correct school’s name everywhere. Finally, if at all possible, put a little time between your last revision and your proof. And make sure that you are alert when you check your essay if you really want to catch all errors.

If you follow the above steps, you are on your way to writing a truly remarkable essay. (Yes, remarkable is my final “R”.)

Best of luck and have fun writing!

Are you ready to apply the 16 R’s to your med school application essays? Accepted’s expert consultants know just how to help you highlight your strengths and craft an application that will help you get accepted to your top choice medical school. Check out our one-on-one admissions services so you can ace your application and GET ACCEPTED!

Related Resources:

• Medical School Sample Personal Statements
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Medical School Application Essays
• 9 Secrets to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story

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Best Medical Essay Topics for Students & Expert Writing Tips

#i',$content, -1); --> table of contents medical topics for essay: the essentials medical essay topics: how to choose a good one 15 strong medical argumentative essay topics some interesting medical ethics topics for essay the most relevant medical persuasive essay topics top medical research essay topics to save you time good medical assistant essay topics writing a modern medical education essay can be an effective way of communicating information, discussing research findings, or educating others about important topics related to health and healthcare. in this 5-minute read, we’ll go over the essentials to help you write a very organized and insightful nursing paper, as well as offer an extensive list of fresh medical essay topics that will make your paper outstanding. medical topics for essay: the essentials.

A nursing essay is an academic writing assignment that aims to demonstrate your knowledge throughout the application process for nursing school, a nursing program, or during your years as a medical student. Essay writing for nurses is also a great way to advance careers and emphasize critical issues or exceptional cases.

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Here’s how to write a good health essay step by step:

• Choose a topic that aligns with your subject matter or interest in nursing.
• Conduct thorough research to have a strong foundation for your paper.
• Develop a clear, concise thesis statement.
• Create a detailed outline that arranges the information consistently.
• Write a compelling introduction that gives background on the subject.
• Develop body paragraphs that focus on particular issues related to your thesis.
• Support all claims with valid evidence and cite sources using a suitable citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).
• Craft a thoughtful conclusion that sums up the key points examined in the paper and restates the thesis.

Last but not least, use clear and concise language to convey your ideas, and always take the time to proofread the completed paper and ensure it meets the provided guidelines.

Medical Essay Topics: How to Choose a Good One

These are some of ​​the most effective tips for selecting a topic for any essay, including a nursing one:

• Think of the nursing essay topics you find interesting.
• Check for possible resources to base your paper on; ensure there’s plenty available.
• Make sure the topic is not too specific, as it will be harder to research.
• Ensure it’s broad enough to tackle lots of ideas and thoughts.
• Review samples online to find some inspiration.
• Ask a friend or someone from your institution to brainstorm medical topics for essay with you.
• Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals, let’s take a look at the best fifteen argumentative medical essay topics available today.

15 Strong Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

The medical argumentative essay topics below were hand-selected by our best experts in the field, so you can quickly get started with your paper.

• Should insurance cover holistic treatments?
• Recent advances in stem cell research and ethical issues.
• Gene editing: ethical implications.
• Vaccination: public health necessity or infringement on personal liberty?
• AI in healthcare and its potential risks and benefits.
• Which way to treat mental health issues is better: psychotherapy or medication?
• The effects of genetically modified foods on population health.
• Who should be held accountable for childhood obesity?
• Cosmetic surgery: a personal preference or a necessity?
• Should organ donation be made compulsory or remain voluntary?
• The right to try experimental drugs: a humanitarian act or a dangerous business?
• Opioid dependence vs. patient autonomy in chronic pain management.
• What are the short-term and long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure?
• Ethical aspects of human cloning.
• Is animal-assisted therapy a pseudoscience or an efficient treatment?

Next, we’ll cover medical ethics essay topics that offer room to build a strong argument and support it with research.

Some Interesting Medical Ethics Topics for Essay

This list of medical ethics topics for essay can help you narrow down your choices and find the one that is both relevant to your studies and interesting:

• The implications of pregnancy termination due to a genetic condition.
• The ethical side of using social media in medicine.
• Should minors have access to birth control without parental consent?
• Is it ethical to test potentially dangerous medication on animals?
• Should technology be used to do open-heart surgery?
• Should artificial intelligence be used to reduce human errors?
• Donation of organs and ethnic preference.
• What are the ethical implications of active euthanasia and physician-assisted one?
• Learning nursing by incorporating handheld devices.
• Is it ethical to obtain patient-specific information for predictive analysis?
• The global disparities in medical ethics.
• The implications of genetically modified animals.
• Models of ethical decision-making in counseling.
• John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant’s moral theories.
• The 9/11 attack’s impact on the ethics.

Now let’s move on to persuasive essay medical topics that will definitely impress your professor.

The Most Relevant Medical Persuasive Essay Topics

We’ve combed through several lists of medical persuasive essay topics to provide you with 15 that are relevant, simple, and current:

• Does technology positively or negatively impact people’s mental health and well-being?
• Are genetically modified crops good or bad for society?
• Can science assist people with physical limitations in living better lives?
• The influence of mental health disorders on the community.
• Is infertility connected to couples’ stress levels and poor lifestyle choices?
• Is obesity a result of the food business?
• Is biohacking healthy?
• Are genetically modified foods harmful to our health?
• Can crystal healing help improve our physical and mental health?
• Should broad-use drugs have a 20-year patent?
• Do needle exchange programs help limit the transmission of blood-borne infections?
• Is bone marrow transplantation helpful for patients with blood cancer?
• Do contraceptive pills pose risks?
• Can food allergies cause behavior problems?
• Should dental insurance be required for everyone?

More interested in controversial medical essay topics? Below, you’ll find a collection of specially selected ones so you can find something that is ideal for you.

Best Controversial Medical Essay Topics for Discussion

Another sign of great medical research essay topics is that they leave no one indifferent. Let’s see what ideas you can develop for further discussion.

• Is there any connection between poverty and poor health?
• What factors influence healthcare costs in the U.S.?
• Should the government provide free health care to people without homes?
• Is the cost of healthcare in the United States reasonable?
• Is it necessary to urge patients to begin utilizing homeopathy?
• What donor system is better: opt-in or opt-out?
• Should uninsured persons be given access to healthcare?
• Should euthanasia be made illegal?
• Should surrogacy be utilized on demand or solely for medical reasons?
• Is womb transplanting a viable surrogacy option?
• Should someone be rejected for an organ transplant just because they lead an unhealthy lifestyle?
• Should abortion be legalized?
• Should newborn vaccination be mandatory?
• Should doctors be permitted to promote certain medicinal products?
• Should there be legal consequences for medical mistakes?

In case you’re doing research, the medical essay topics discussed in the next section might come in handy, so check them out now!

Top Medical Research Essay Topics to Save You Time

We’ve spent hours researching current trends in health research so that we can provide you with the best research ideas for your paper. And here’s the result:

• The placebo effect in homeopathic treatments.
• Pandemics vs. epidemics.
• Vaccination: risks vs. benefits.
• Communication problems caused by deafness.
• Diseases brought on by a lack of physical activity.
• Urban pollution’s impact on respiratory diseases.
• Causes of the rising number of cancer cases.
• The most recent medical device advancements.
• Natural coma vs. induced coma.
• Terrorism’s impact on mental health.
• Electronic health record systems: pros and cons.
• Causes and consequences of heart attacks.
• Quality of patient care in public vs. private hospitals.
• Chemotherapy and its effects on the body.
• Causes and predispositions to anxiety disorders.

Lastly, let’s take a quick look at some of the most compelling medical assistant essay topics. Using any of them will help you produce an exceptional paper.

Good Medical Assistant Essay Topics

When it comes to choosing medical assistant topics, you need something meaningful. Hover over these examples to spot the fitting idea for your essay:

• Is medical assistant a rewarding career?
• The role of medical assistants in preventive healthcare.
• Reflection on a specialized clinical procedure.
• Milestones and pitfalls of being an anesthesiologist assistant.
• Ethical considerations of medical assistance.
• The role of medical assistants in intravenous therapy.
• Medical assistant qualities.
• The contribution of assistants to chronic disease management.
• The advantages and disadvantages of being a clinical assistant.
• Professional development opportunities for medical assistants.
• Cultural competence in medical assisting.
• Consequences of working outside of the legal scope of practice.
• Technological advancements in medical assisting.
• The impact of COVID-19 on medical assistant practice.
• Trends and innovations in medical assisting.

We hope these ideas will help you find a suitable area to cover. In case you need any further assistance with your paper or want to get more great topics, our medical essay writing service is here for you 24/7!

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Medical Communications 101: Your Questions About Medical Writing Answered by a Medical Writer

What is medical writing?

Medical writing is an essential part of modern healthcare. Medical writing encompasses a variety of writing tasks that are performed in the course of creating a variety of medical and healthcare-related communications or documents. These documents may include articles for medical journals, white papers, clinical trial protocols and reports, regulatory documents, patient brochures, presentations (in the industry, you might often hear them referred to as “slide decks”) to educate healthcare professionals, and much more. It allows doctors to provide comprehensive and accessible medical information to their patients. It also allows pharmaceutical companies to effectively communicate with doctors, other healthcare professionals, patients, regulatory agencies (like the FDA), and insurance companies thus improving their promotional, marketing, and outreach strategies. Medical writing is also becoming more important to patients, as an ever-growing amount of medical data and information becomes available to the public and healthcare becomes more patient-centric. 

Are medical writers in demand?

Medical writing is a lucrative career that has steadily grown over the past few decades. There is a constant demand for qualified medical writers who can write and edit medical and pharmaceutical documents such as scientific, regulatory, and marketing applications, slide decks, monographs, medical devices’ product information, medical guidelines, protocols, and more. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic when hiring freezes and layoffs have been common in many fields,  medical writing jobs have continued to grow in number. The field is expected to see continued growth, given the expansion of the healthcare industry and the demand for effective communication of large troves of medical and healthcare-related information.

What does a medical writer do exactly? What do their responsibilities look like?

A medical writer performs a variety of tasks to help a medical communications agency or a pharmaceutical company create educational and marketing materials to meet its needs. These tasks may include conducting research and analysis of data, creating patient brochures, medical education materials, and scientific publications, engaging with clinicians or medical experts, fact-checking, and much more. Today, medical writing is a very broad term. The job description of medical writers may range from drafting and editing scientific publications to organizing and implementing multimillion dollar medical education and marketing campaigns.

Medical writers work closely with teams of professionals with expertise in a variety of fields such as medicine, research, marketing, and regulatory affairs – as a medical writer you may interact and work with other medical writers, content strategists, medical editors, graphic designers, project managers, and other specialists on a regular basis, from the stage of creating the first draft of a piece of medical content, which may subsequently undergo several edits, revisions, and iterations before final submission. 

While a medical writer will coordinate with and likely be supported by your team during these steps, the medical writer is responsible for managing their own writing assignments, completing them to the specifications of the client, sending them back for review, revising the content and resubmitting it within stipulated deadlines. In many cases, you can expect to be working on multiple projects for multiple clients, potentially at the same time. Therefore, the ability (and discipline) to juggle multiple projects and achieve a level of familiarity/basic knowledge across multiple complex topics as well as an attention to detail (eg, spelling, grammar) are important skills for a medical writer. 

How do I become a medical writer? Can I work as a freelance medical writer? What are some examples of medical communication jobs?

If you have got a background in science, have good communication skills, and are looking for a career with a good earning potential, you might be interested in medical writing. As a medical writer, you’ll specialize in writing the scientific and medical documents that health care professionals, hospitals, pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, and other medical organizations (eg, contract research organizations or CROs) need for their internal and external communications.

Becoming a medical writer is a little different than becoming a regular writer. If you are a science or healthcare major, you are at an advantage, as the vast majority of medical writers have an advanced degree in these fields. Usually you are hired by a company that specializes in medical communications, such as medical communications agency, or by a pharmaceutical company or medical/contract research organization. You may also choose to go the freelance route, but each approach has its pros and cons: If you work for a medical communications agency or as an in-house medical writer for a pharma company, you will likely be in a salaried position and would not need to worry about getting steady work. If you work as a freelancer/independent contractor for an agency, you will be responsible for finding work and you will often be paid a rate per hour or per project. Your compensation will be a percentage of the amount the client pays the agency for these services, so it will be up to you to find work on a regular basis. Once you gain more experience in the industry, you may be able to negotiate the rate of compensation and can justify charging higher rates. An independent contractor may have more flexibility in the projects they choose and may earn more per hour or project, but it comes at the cost of a steady paycheck and job security.

Medical writers work in a variety of capacities in the health care and pharmaceutical industry, including in-house at medical device companies and pharmaceutical companies, medical communications agencies, public relations agencies, educational institutions, and hospitals. You can work as medical writers, fact checkers, medical editors, scientific directors, and more. Depending on the company/agency, the titles and responsibilities of these jobs can vary. Many medical writing jobs are available for contract/freelance writers (especially if they have considerable experience in the field). Both office-based and remot medical writing jobs exist, but ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical communications agencies have embraced work from home models, increasing the chances of being able to work remotely and for companies that are not based in your geographical location.

What qualifications do you need to be a medical writer?

For most medical writers, a Bachelor degree is the minimum educational qualification necessary for employment in the field. However, an advanced biomedical degree, such as a PhD, MD, PharmD, or a Master’s degree in the biomedical field can certainly help writers get hired for more senior roles as well as earn more – in fact, the vast majority of medical writing professionals have one of these advanced degrees. 

Where and how can I develop medical writing skills? What are some helpful resources available for someone interested in medical communications?

Aspiring medical writers —especially those who are new to the field—may wonder where and how they can  develop medical writing skills.  Most of the time, these skills are developed on the job, since the acquisition of medical writing skills is rarely taught in medical school or biology/biomedical graduate programs.  Whether you are a new grad or have years of experience, it is always good practice to keep up with new developments in the field and learn new skills that are required to keep your career current.

There are various ways to develop medical writing skills. For example, you can enroll in a program that teaches medical writing. Several universities offer such programs, but pursuing such courses/programs may mean spending more time and money. As mentioned above, most medical writers learn many of the requisite skills on the job, but there are are certain elements from your graduate training that can help you stand out from a pool of candidates in the job market and make for a smooth start.

While most graduate programs in science may not necessarily have courses that teach medical writing, transferable skills you acquire during graduate or medical training can benefit you considerably as you embark on a medical writing career. For instance, scientific writing skills (acquired by writing grants, designing posters, and creating slide decks to present your research), analytical skills (honed by activities like performing literature searches, generating scientific ideas, gaining an understanding of statistics, interpretation of research data, analysis of tables and graphs, to name a few), the ability to collaborate and work well with a team (gained by working with lab members and research collaborators), the ability to manage multiple projects (achieved by juggling your thesis research and other side projects, for example), are all valuable qualities that you can leverage from your graduate degree to be successful in medical communications.

Professional organizations, like the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) , are often great resources for medical writers in all stages of their careers – these organizations offer excellent opportunities for meeting other medical writers, networking, and professional development. Becoming a member of the local chapter of AMWA (or similar organizations in your region) could be a good option to access several professional resources for medical writers. Another good resource to learn more about  improve medical writing skills by following reputed websites related to medical and science writing that provide tips and advice on medical communications and writing skills. Blogs and podcasts from other established medical writers are also good places to help you become familiar with the industry. 

What are the different types of medical writing?

There are many different types of medical writing. The most common forms of medical writing include medical journalism, medical education and publications, and regulatory writing. Medical journalism is similar to general journalism in that it involves writing articles about medical topics for general readers or lay audience. Medical education (including promotional medical education) involves writing educational and promotional materials that teach medical professionals about particular health conditions and specific drugs. Medical publications may include reviews and articles on academic journals as well as abstracts and posters for clinical conferences. Regulatory writing is the process of creating written materials that comply with the regulations set by government agencies like the US FDA (regulatory submission documents) – regulatory writers typically work in this niche and they may either work in-house for pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations or for medical communication agencies.

Is medical writing the same as scientific writing?

Medical writing, in the broad sense, is a subset of scientific writing. Scientific writing encompasses writing on medical topics as well as other scientific topics such as basic science, engineering, and more. Some of the types of writing that fall under the scientific writing umbrella include academic writing (publications, grants), science journalism (for newspapers, magazines and websites), medical writing, and technical writing – sometimes with overlap among the various subsets.  Medical writing, which focuses on the healthcare industry, can be considered a specialty within scientific writing.  One of the main differences between the two are the target audience and the intended outcome:  Medical writing aims to inform/educate audiences that include public health and healthcare professionals, clinicians, payers who provide drug access (eg, insurance companies), and patients. Scientific writing – in a stricter sense – focuses mostly on academic audiences, to review scientific research or to communicate scientific concepts to scientists or researchers.

Hope this article provided you some answers about medical communications. If it helped you learn more about medical writing (or if you have additional questions), please let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading!

Hi there! I’m Aaram, the founder of Sciencera. I grew up in the beautiful city of Thiruvananthapuram in the Southern part of India, famous for its pristine beaches. Now, I am a scientific writer based in Indianapolis. When I am not busy procrastinating on my writing, poring through research articles, or coming up with grand ideas to save the planet, I love playing soccer and chess. I read a bit and write sporadically when caffeinated to the right amount. I am passionate about scientific research, writing, and outreach activities.

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How to Write a Medical Essay

Medical essay overview.

Medical essays are some of the most common course requirements in medical school. As regular assignments, they can be given out as mid-semester evaluation tests or end-semester exams.

Scholars are required to demonstrate various learning skills, including understanding of various concepts, theories, bodies of knowledge, and their application in real world scenarios.

With the requisite skills, writing such essays can be quite an interesting endeavor. Writing a good medical essay demands an in-depth understanding of the relevant expectations.  

Key Expectations on how to Write a Medical Essay

When writing a medical essay, you have to consider various expectations. These expectations encompass critical guidelines on  how to write an essay .

They are usually the difference between a superior and a low quality essay. Such expectations are a discussed below.  

a) A proper understanding of factual evidence : the medical essays seek to examine your understanding of all relevant scientific evidence acquired in theory and practice.

In the essay, you must demonstrate that you possess the right knowledge about the medical field.

b)   Effective communication : communication is extremely important. Having extensive factual knowledge without adequate communication skills will always result into a poor essay.

Your facts must be well articulated to ensure that the reader fully understands your argument(s). This requires you to ensure that your grammar, punctuation, and syntax reflects adequate proficiency levels in English.

As well, it is critical to ensure that your sentences and paragraphs are fluent enough to allow fluidity in thoughts and arguments.  

c)   Accurate analysis of problems : medical essays require that you consider different and voluminous bodies on knowledge to help solve a particular problem.

Most of the topics explored by such essays are controversial and therefore require a thoughtfully considered opinion.

To achieve this, you should be able to dissect the essay problem into different basic components to find out which of the component weighs more consequently requiring more priority.

In this, in all your points/arguments, you must explain why one thing should be done and not the other.

d) Effective identification of relevant issues : medical essays in most cases encompass convoluted question(s). Therefore, you must accurately identify what issues you are supposed to address in the essay.

Inability to do this will result into failure in answering the correct question or addressing it sufficiently. As such, you should ensure that you understand and answer the right question.

This can only be realized through accurate identification of essay topic area(s) and topic scope.

e)   Proper time management : whether it is a sit in or a take away essay, time management is a critical factor when writing a medical essay.

The essay generally requires adequate research, analysis of different sets of facts, and proper compilation of evidence. This is a time consuming process and proper time management comes in handy.

Late submission is usually punishable and you are therefore required to demonstrate your ability to manage time effectively. 

Steps on how to Write a Medical Essay

Writing a medical essay could assume numerous steps. These steps are critical in helping realize work that resonates with all elements of a good essay. These steps are as elaborated below.

a) Conducting a basic research on essay topic:  This step encompasses examining the essay topic/question to help comprehend the expected answers, scope, and standards.

You must adequately explore the requirements of the essay provided in the instructions. Such requirements could be explicit or implicit in the essay instructions.

You are required to respond adequately to both set of requirements.

b) Generating essay thesis:  An appropriate thesis is one of the major elements of a good essay. The thesis should clearly put forward an argument that will be advanced in the essay.  

It should appear in the introduction part, and in most cases, as the last sentence. The thesis statement must be concise and all-encompassing.

It is essential to keep on referencing the thesis in the essay body to ensure that the essay remains on course.

c) Listing down the main points:  This entails developing a rough draft based on the essay's key arguments to support the thesis.

You are supposed to note down numerous points and conduct a research to find out which of these points can be supported with adequate evidence.

Then continue to select the points with adequate evidence, focusing more on supportive data and examples.

d) Developing a rough draft:  This step entails developing your argument from the selected points. The argument should be developed around paragraphs, with each point being covered in a separate paragraph.  

These paragraphs and the whole essay should assume the correct essay structure. Such structure looks at key aspects such as topic sentences and transitions.

e) Re-writing the essay:  This step involves finalizing the essay. It encompasses developing the essay introduction and conclusion. In following good essay writing practices, you should ensure that these two parts are written last.

You should start with the introduction, highlighting all the key points to be covered in the essay. The conclusion should then follow and summarize the main points in the essay. 

f) Proofreading the essay:  This is an essential step in medical essay writing. It is meant to eliminate all errors and enhance coherence.

It is important to note that however good an essay could be, errors and mistakes significantly lower its quality.

You should therefore go through the essay at least twice to ensure that it is devoid of grammatical errors and it effectively answers the question asked.

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Our Physician Advisors will help you brainstorm content while our Writing Advisors will help you refine that content, paying special attention how you are showcasing your experiences, organizing your narrative, and developing your unique “voice.” After some careful editing and proofreading from your Writing Advisor and a final review by your Physician Advisor, you will have a compelling and authentic essay that will help you stand out.

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Our advisors use our comprehensive intake form and spend time getting to know you on a personal level to find out what makes you unique.

Using your individual qualities, your Physician Advisor will work with you to brainstorm a cohesive narrative.

Develop and Organize

Once you have decided on content, your Writing Advisor will help you develop and enhance your story, turning your ideas into an organized and cohesive essay that puts your experiences in the spotlight.

Edit and Finalize

After a few drafts, your Writing Advisor will refine your prose and correct smaller writing errors that stand in the way of excellence. Your Physician Advisor will then approve the final product.

With the help of your team of advisors, you will craft a primary application that will get you secondary application invites, and lead to an acceptance to medical school.

Here is an example of an essay draft written by a student. Swipe to see the professional edits from a Physician Advisor.

Meet a Physician Advisor

Dr. Marinelli was an admissions committee member at UC Irvine

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Lauren Mayer MD Master Advisor

Dr. Mayer is a compassionate and dedicated physician and teacher. She has a passion for mentoring students to help them achieve their goals. She is a board-certified Pediatrician.

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A trailblazing physician and advocate, Dr. Ng has spearheaded LGBT health initiatives, founded Ohio's first LGBT-focused PRIDE Clinic, and achieved numerous accolades for his work in healthcare diversity and inclusion. Dr. Ng was an assistant dean and member of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Admissions Committee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

With MedSchoolCoach, you get the advantage of having a Physician Advisor and Writing Advisor to help you develop your story. Our Physician Advisors have sat on admissions committees and have evaluated thousands of applications, so they understand exactly how to bring out the best in an applicant. Our Writing Advisors are professional writers and editors who will help you refine your concepts and create a compelling essay. This combination results in an extremely powerful team that will take your application essays to a new level.

Yes! All our essay editing packages come with brainstorming time with your Physician Advisor. Your Writing Advisor will also provide you with a worksheet to help you outline your narrative.

We use our advising portal, CHART, to organize your essays. When you upload your drafts to the platform, your Writing Advisor will review them in detail and then provide constructive feedback on how to improve them. As you get closer to a final draft, we will focus on things like word choice, sentence structure, and grammar.

Advisors provide feedback within 24-96 hours of submission. This allows enough time for in-depth edits.

More Questions

Application advising reviews.

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Med school coach was extremely helpful especially developing my personal statement! They helped me put my dreams into words. It was also so wonderful to have a team of support when facing the daunting secondary essays. Highly recommend!!

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MedSchoolCoach has been incredibly helpful with my personal statement and secondary essays, helping me effectively communicate my experiences and qualities. They have also been a huge help with CASPer preparation. I am glad to have them assist me every step of the way with this process!

Great Consultants

I hired Medschoolcoach to help my daughter with her medical school application. They were excellent at helping her create a great personal statement, application and preparing her for her interviews. I highly recommend them, especially Dr. Frazier! I also liked that they were very honest with us from the beginning as to the strength of her application.

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Great! We love working with students to help them get into medical school.

Strategic Planning

We provide advising and early planning to get you on the right track towards your medical school goals.

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Our Writing Advisors will help you draft and edit your personal statement.

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Our Physician Advisors will prepare you for traditional and MMI interviews.

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Educational resources, recent blog posts.

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I'm a non-traditional student, applying for a medical residency during covid. I encountered many obstacles that had me pretty demoralized at times. Dr. Blair Nelson kept my spirits up, and demystified the process, making it seem more manageable. I'm now in orientation for my residency, and I'm not sure I'd be here without his help. We still talk and I keep him updated on my progress. This service was worth every penny. Two thumbs waaay up.

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In short, this is a first class organization. They don't just take your money and let you fend for yourself. They work with you to create a personalized plan for both how much tutoring you need as well as how to most effectively use your tutoring time. Every single minute was high-yield stuff with no wasted nonsense.

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Content Writing How to use AI in Medical Writing [Complete Guide]

• 1) Simplify Complex Terminology:
• 2) Adapt Content Tone for Different Audiences:
• 3) Format Citations According to Guidelines:
• 4) Combine Ethics with Clear Communication:
• 5) Organize Information Logically:
• 6) Enhance Understanding of Medical Concepts:
• 7) Use AI To Summarize Long Medical Studies:
• 8) Use AI to Enhance Grammar and Style:
• 9) Gain Scientific Precision and Simplicity:
• 10) Craft Approachable Patient Communications:
• 11) Maintain Objective Tone and Language:
• 12) Refine Content with AI-Powered Editing:
• 13) Ensure Consistent Terminology:
• 14) Get Contextual Vocabulary Suggestions:
• 15) Automate Citation and Reference Formatting:
• 16.1) Identify Your Objectives:
• 16.2) Know Your Audience:
• 16.3) Customize AI Suggestions:
• 16.4) Combine Human Expertise with AI:
• 16.5) Stay Updated with AI Advances:
• 16.6) Experiment with AI-Generated Outlines:
• 16.7) Proofread with AI Assistance:
• 16.8) Run Originality Checks:
• 16.9) Fact-Check and Verify Data:
• 16.10) Rework Attention-Grabbing Headlines:
• 16.11) Engage in AI-Enhanced Research:
• 16.12) Use AI for Multilingual Content Carefully:
• 16.13) Stay Ethical and Responsible:
• 17) Non-Medical Writers Come Across Several Medical Writing Challenges
• 18) The Solution: Use AI in Medical Writing

Are you struggling to make sense of all those fancy medical words? Medical writing can be like cracking a secret code that only doctors seem to understand. But guess what? You’re not alone. If you’re not a medical expert, these challenges can feel like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded. Solution? Use AI in medical writing.

Imagine trying to explain complex medical stuff in a way that doesn’t make people’s heads spin. It’s like trying to speak a foreign language without ever learning the words. Plus, getting things wrong? That’s like walking on thin ice.

Use Our AI Medical Writing Guide – your trusty sidekick in AI powered medical writing. From tackling those research papers that feel like an uphill battle to making doctor and layman friendly, you will find some great tips on how to Use AI in medical writing.

Let’s see some helpful tips on how to use AI in medical writing:

Simplify Complex Terminology:

Ever read something and felt like you stumbled into a maze of medical words? AI tools can help. They take those tongue-twisting terms and swap them for plain language, so you’re not left scratching your head. You get the info without needing a medical dictionary.

Reusable AI Medical Writing Prompt:  

 “Provide simpler alternatives for ‘myocardial infarction’ in patient-focused content, maintaining accuracy.”

Output: 

Sure, simpler alternatives for “myocardial infarction” can be “heart attack” or “blockage in the heart”. Both of these terms are accurate and easier for a patient to understand.

Adapt Content Tone for Different Audiences:

Imagine writing for doctors and your neighbor. That’s a balancing act, but AI can help. It tweaks your words to fit the crowd you’re talking to, making sure your message resonates whether you’re addressing pros or just regular folks.

 “Adapt the language about [medical procedure] for a general audience while retaining medical accuracy.”

Format Citations According to Guidelines:

Citations – the bane of every writer’s existence. But guess what? AI can do the heavy lifting. Tell it the style you need, and bam! Your references are neatly organized, and you’re spared the headache.

“Format the references in this content according to the AMA style guidelines [insert content].”

Combine Ethics with Clear Communication:

Talking about medical stuff isn’t just about facts; it’s about feelings too. AI checks your content for both – making sure your words are sensitive and accurate. It’s like having an empathy filter for your writing.

“Review this content discussing [treatment/condition] for empathetic language and medical accuracy. [insert content]”

Organize Information Logically:

Ever read something that jumps all over the place? AI helps you avoid that. It lays out your ideas in a logical sequence, so your readers don’t feel like they’re on a roller coaster of information.

“Generate an outline based on the research on [insert medical topic] to help structure my article.”

Enhance Understanding of Medical Concepts:

You know those terms that sound like gibberish? AI breaks them down for you. It explains stuff in everyday language, so you’re not lost in a sea of medical mumbo-jumbo.

 “Explain the term ‘diabetes mellitus’ in simple language suitable for a general audience.”

Use AI To Summarize Long Medical Studies:

Imagine you’re on a mission to stay hip with the latest medical marvels. AI writing tools slide in like your trusty research partner. They dive into those hefty research papers, sieve out the juicy nuggets – the big discoveries, the methods that matter, and the outcomes that count. So, you’re up to date without feeling like you’re drowning in paper seas.

Expert Tip: Use AI to summarize research papers and quickly identify relevant information. Combine summaries from different tools to create a comprehensive overview.

 “Summarize this research paper on [topic] to highlight the key findings, methods, and results. [insert research paper content]”

Use AI to Enhance Grammar and Style:

Think about it: you’re crafting a case study that’s got to be both brainy and breezy. That’s where AI tools step in, your language wizards. They catch those tangled sentences and serve up smoother options. Your medical expertise flows smoothly, even for folks who aren’t experts.

Expert Tip: Utilize AI grammar tools, but also customize their suggestions to match medical writing conventions. Regularly review and adapt these suggestions to create a consistent medical writing style.

“Review [medical case study] for complex sentence structures and suggest simplifications while maintaining medical accuracy. [insert case study]”

Gain Scientific Precision and Simplicity:

Picture this: you’re explaining a medical concept, and you want it to make sense to everyone. AI comes to the rescue, making sure you don’t lose the juicy details while keeping things simple. It’s like having a science translator that keeps it real.

Review my explanation of [specific medical concept] and suggest ways to simplify it without losing important details. [insert your explanation]”

Craft Approachable Patient Communications:

Explaining medical things to patients isn’t easy. But AI makes it a breeze. It helps you turn complex info into friendly chats, so patients can make informed decisions without feeling lost.

“Offer patient-friendly explanations of [medical procedure/condition] for a brochure targeting non-medical readers.”

Maintain Objective Tone and Language:

 “Review [content] to ensure it remains objective, with no personal opinions or biases. “

Refine Content with AI-Powered Editing:

Ever wished for a writing assistant that polishes your work? AI’s got you. It fine-tunes your writing, making it shine like a pro did the editing.

 “Edit [ article] according to medical writing best practices to enhance clarity and accuracy [insert article].”

Ensure Consistent Terminology:

Ever been lost in a maze of words? AI tools become your terminology detectives. They nab those sneaky word switches, making sure your team’s masterpiece speaks the same medical language. It’s like teamwork on the same musical note – smooth, harmonious, and crystal clear.

Expert Tip: Create a glossary of standard medical terms and phrases. Use AI tools to cross-reference your writing against this glossary, ensuring consistent usage throughout.

 “Check this manuscript for variations in medical terminology and suggest corrections to maintain uniform language. [insert manuscript]”

Get Contextual Vocabulary Suggestions:

Now, let’s talk about breaking things down for everyday folks. AI writing tools become your translation buddies. They swap complex medical words for simpler ones, turning your patient education materials into a friendly chat. No more jargon confusion – just clear understanding.

Expert Tip: Use AI tools to recognize medical jargon and suggest layman-friendly alternatives. Test these suggestions with non-expert readers to ensure clarity without compromising accuracy.

“Suggest simpler alternatives for [complex medical terms] in [patient education document] while retaining the accuracy of information.”

Automate Citation and Reference Formatting:

You’re diving into the research jungle, but then come the citation monsters. But wait, AI tools to the rescue! They swoop in as your citation superheroes. They gather your sources, weave them into the right format, and voilà – your references are a neat and tidy bunch, while you focus on the meaty stuff.

Expert Tip: Regularly update your AI tool’s reference styles based on journal guidelines. Manually check a sample of generated citations to ensure accuracy.

“ Generate citations and compile a bibliography in AMA format for the references in [research paper].”

Make Content Globally Accessible through AI Translation:

You’re sharing medical wisdom, but languages stand in the way. Enter AI-powered translation tools, your linguistic pals. They take your work and shape it into different languages, so your insights dance across borders and break through language barriers. It’s like having a global megaphone for your expertise.

Expert Tip: While AI tools can aid in translation, engage medical professionals fluent in the target language to review and refine the translated content for accuracy.

“Translate [patient brochure content] from [English] to [target language], ensuring that medical terminology is accurately conveyed

Additional Tips for Using AI in Medical Writing

Identify your objectives:.

Before diving into AI tools , clarify your writing goals. Are you creating patient education content, research summaries, or opinion pieces? Different tools may be more suitable for each purpose, so align your tool choice with your content type.

Know Your Audience:

Understand who you’re writing for. AI tools can help simplify complex terms, but for medical professionals, the jargon might be necessary. For patient-facing content, AI can aid in keeping it approachable and understandable.

Customize AI Suggestions:

AI tools provide suggestions, but don’t treat them as gospel. Tailor these suggestions to your unique writing style. For instance, if you often use specific medical acronyms, train the AI to recognize and appropriately incorporate them.

Combine Human Expertise with AI:

While AI tools enhance efficiency, remember that they lack human intuition. Always review and refine AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with medical accuracy and context. Your expertise is irreplaceable.

Stay Updated with AI Advances:

AI writing tools continuously improve. Stay informed about updates and new tools specifically designed for medical writing. Regularly explore emerging options that might better suit your evolving needs.

Experiment with AI-Generated Outlines:

Consider letting AI generate an outline for your medical blog post. It can analyze your research and suggest a structure that ensures you cover all crucial aspects of the topic. This can be a time-saving starting point for your writing.

Proofread with AI Assistance:

While you’re a medical expert, AI tools are grammar helpers. Use them to meticulously proofread your articles, catching those tricky typos and grammatical errors that might slip through your medical-focused review.

Run Originality Checks:

Imagine you’re piecing together a massive medical puzzle from all over. AI-powered originality checks? They’re your puzzle guardians. They scan your work against the whole world’s knowledge, making sure your brilliance shines, without any accidental copy-paste hiccups.

Expert Tip: Before submission, run your manuscript through multiple plagiarism detection tools. Cross-reference results to ensure that your work is entirely original and properly attributed.

Fact-Check and Verify Data:

AI tools can assist in cross-referencing data within your articles. However, verify critical medical information from reputable sources independently to ensure your content is reliable and trustworthy.

Rework Attention-Grabbing Headlines:

Experiment with AI-generated headlines to pique reader interest. However, don’t solely rely on them; leverage your medical insights to ensure that the headline accurately reflects the content’s value.

Engage in AI-Enhanced Research:

Use AI-powered research tools to scour medical databases for relevant studies. These tools can save you time by sifting through vast amounts of literature and delivering the most pertinent information.

Use AI for Multilingual Content Carefully:

If you’re catering to an international audience, leverage AI translation tools to offer your content in multiple languages. However, ensure translations are reviewed by medical experts to preserve accuracy.

Stay Ethical and Responsible:

When using AI tools to generate content, give proper attribution for AI-generated portions, especially in medical writing where you are using AI.

Non-Medical Writers Come Across Several Medical Writing Challenges

• Navigating Complex Medical Terminology.
• Conveying Scientific Concepts in Simple Language.
• Summarizing Extensive Research Papers Succinctly.
• Adapting Tone for Different Audience Levels.
• Formatting Citations According to Guidelines.
• Balancing Ethical Considerations and Clarity.
• Structuring Information Logically and Coherently.
• Explaining Medical Concepts to Non-Experts.
• Staying Current with Rapid Medical Advancements.
• Crafting Patient-Friendly Communications.
• Maintaining Objective and Unbiased Content.
• Ensuring Accurate and Well-Edited Writing.

The Solution: Use AI in Medical Writing

Simplify the overwhelming task of medical writing and use AI writing tools to write medical content like a pro. AI in Medical writing unlocks new avenues of scientific precision and tone accuracy for your audience, so you can establish your authority in the medical niche. 

Recommended Reads:

• Writing Coherence and Readability – How to Humanize AI Writing? [Complete Guide]
• Complete Guide to “Fixing” AI Generated Content
• 11 Ways to Use AI To Improve Writing – Level The Field with Native Writers!
• How to Write a Tagline? Top Writing Tips

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Medicine & the Muse Program

Paul kalanithi writing award, paul kalanithi was a physician writer and neurosurgery resident at stanford university. in the final years of his training, he was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. his memoir,  when breath becomes air , beautifully chronicles his reflections on living with illness and the meaning of legacy. the paul kalanithi writing award was created in his memory. , open for submissions: november 8, 2023.

This short documentary by Stanford videographer Mark Hanlon captures Paul Kalanithi’s shifting perception of time while living with terminal cancer.

Lucy Kalanithi often visits the gravesite of her husband, Paul Kalanithi, with the couple’s daughter, Cady, to picnic and leave flowers. (Photo by Timothy Archibald)

Prize Winners

2023 prize winners.

First place essay:  A Good Death |  Heather Alva, MD

First place short story:  Home Videos | Tatyana Singh

First place poety:  Bulbs |  Lana Corrales 

First place poetry (tie):  Lunch Break/Brave Face |  Aidan Theepura Kunju

2022 Prize Winners

First place:  Sick Girl Goes on a Date  | Alyson Lee

Second place: To Sit With   | Brian Zhao

Third place:   What That Poem was About   | Fiona Miller

Fourth place: I Wear You Like a Memory | Nicolas Seranio

Honorable Mention

  Junk Journal  | James Hyun Lee

2021 Prize Winners

First place:  Sliding Down  | Michael Rabow, MD

Second place:   Silver   | Hannah Joyner

Third place:   Of Seeds  | Rachael Peckham, PhD Honorable Mention

How to Deal with Charon  | Brian Smith, Medical Student

2020 Prize Winners

1st Place: My Father's Brain is on the Kitchen Counter by Laura Pritchett

2nd Place: The Last Shower by Leilani Graham

3rd Place: Code Yellow by Kushal Kadakia

Honorable Mentions

Spilling Stardust  by Richard Wu

*** : Meditations of a Medical Oncology Scribe  by Brian Smith

2019 Prize Winners

1st Place: RUNNING MCCOY'S  by Heather Cariou

2nd Place: Time Like Water  by Grace Li

3rd Place: Dark Rides  by Amy Haddad

The Ward is the World  by Laurie Kutchins

2018 Prize Winners

1st Place: Pulseless  by David James Bell

2nd Place: How Fishele Died  by Nathan Szajnberg

3rd Place: Broken  by Lucia Gagliese

Hair  by Joanne Howard

2017 Prize Winners

1st Place: Borderline Disability: A Life Diagnose by Eli Cahan

2nd Place: In Photographs by Dorothy Rice

3rd Place: Under the Bridge by Tyson West

Recommendation by Marissa McNamara

Two Notes by Cassie Myers

2016 Prize Winners

1st Place: Perestroika  by Petr Vitkovskiy

2nd Place: Parlor Talk  by Catherine Wong

3rd place:  Mercy  by Erik Norbie

Submissions Open: November 8, 2023 - January 10, 2024

Medicine & the Muse is pleased to announce an open call for unpublished short stories, essays or poetry addressing patients and providers facing chronic or life limiting illness.

New this year!  Entries will be evaluated within their own genre: poetry, fiction and non-fiction. 

Contest Guidelines Short Stories/Essays/Fiction/Non-fiction: Less than 2500 words Poetry: Less than 50 lines

Dual submissions permitted, if they are in different genres. No more than two submissions. Simultaneous submissions permitted, but please withdraw your piece if it gets published elsewhere. Collections of poems are permitted, but please adhere to the line limit. The submission fee is $35 per entry. There is no charge for students, residents and fellows.

SUBMIT HERE

Submit here (students, residents, fellows).

Submission Deadline January 10, 2024 Winners announced March 29, 2024 (updated)

Judges have Included  Drs. Lucy Kalanithi and Daniel Mason, Stanford physician writers, Dr. Jay Baruch, Brown University Alpert School of Medicine physician writer, Dr. Irène Mathieu, Assistant Director, Program in Health Humanities,  University of Virginia, Grace Li, MD candidate and author, and Executive Director of Stanford Medical Humanities & Arts program, Jacqueline Genovese

Award Total of 3 winners, one from each genre will be awarded a cash prize of $300. 

Honorarium made possible by the generosity of a Stanford Palliative Care benefactor.

Winners will be published in Anastomosis , Stanford University School of Medicine’s humanities and literary journal. 

Open to all. Please share widely. 

• Open access
• Published: 13 April 2024

Assisted dying: principles, possibilities, and practicalities. An English physician’s perspective

• Robert Twycross 1 , 2  

BMC Palliative Care volume  23 , Article number:  99 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

56 Accesses

6 Altmetric

Metrics details

It seems probable that some form of medically-assisted dying will become legal in England and Wales in the foreseeable future. Assisted dying Bills are at various stages of preparation in surrounding jurisdictions (Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey), and activists campaign unceasingly for a change in the law in England and Wales. There is generally uncritical supportive media coverage, and individual autonomy is seen as the unassailable trump card: ‘my life, my death’.

However, devising a law which is ‘fit for purpose’ is not an easy matter. The challenge is to achieve an appropriate balance between compassion and patient autonomy on the one hand, and respect for human life generally and medical autonomy on the other. More people should benefit from a change in the law than be harmed. In relation to medically-assisted dying, this may not be possible. Protecting the vulnerable is a key issue. Likewise, not impacting negatively on societal attitudes towards the disabled and frail elderly, particularly those with dementia.

This paper compares three existing models of physician-assisted suicide: Switzerland, Oregon (USA), and Victoria (Australia). Vulnerability and autonomy are discussed, and concern expressed about the biased nature of much of the advocacy for assisted dying, tantamount to disinformation. A ‘hidden’ danger of assisted dying is noted, namely, increased suffering as more patients decline referral to palliative-hospice care because they fear they will be ‘drugged to death’.

Finally, suggestions are made for a possible ‘least worse’ way forward. One solution would seem to be for physician-assisted suicide to be the responsibility of a stand-alone Department for Assisted Dying overseen by lawyers or judges and operated by technicians. Doctors would be required only to confirm a patient’s medical eligibility. Palliative-hospice care should definitely not be involved, and healthcare professionals must have an inviolable right to opt out of involvement. There is also an urgent need to improve the provision of care for all terminally ill patients.

Peer Review reports

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in the United Kingdom (UK) defines Assisted Dying (AD) as:

The involvement of healthcare professionals in the provision of lethal drugs intended to end a patient’s life at their voluntary request, subject to eligibility criteria and safeguards. It includes healthcare professionals prescribing lethal drugs for the patient to self-administer (‘physician-assisted suicide’) and healthcare professionals administering lethal drugs (‘euthanasia’) [ 1 ].

This reflects the definitions used in medical and ethical literature, and will be used in this paper. However, confusingly, the pro-AD organization Dignity in Dying ( https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/ ) limits AD to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in patients with a prognosis of less than 6 months. Equally confusing is the decision by the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee (UK) to use of the term ‘assisted dying/assisted suicide’ (AD/AS) when talking about any type of physician-assisted death [ 2 ].

Historically, the demand for AD stems from the fact that the suffering of terminally ill people is not always relieved and, for some people, there is a level of existence below which they would wish to die. At present, AD is available in all or parts of around 12 countries [ 3 ], amounting to about 4% of the world’s population. In some, both PAS and euthanasia are permitted, in others just PAS. Eligibility criteria and safeguards vary.

This article focuses on England and Wales (E&W) where, over the last 20 years, numerous attempts have been made to legalize PAS. For those with reservations about such developments, it may seem that they have only two choices: either to ‘go with the flow’ or, conversely, actively campaign against any form of AD. However, there is a third option: active involvement in the debate, seeking positively to influence any proposed legislation. Devising a law which is ‘fit for purpose’ is definitely not an easy matter [ 4 ]. Existing AD laws are not uniform, and the consequences of legislation will depend on the model under consideration [ 3 ].

The over-riding utilitarian consideration is that more people should benefit from a change in the law than be harmed. In relation to AD, this may not be possible. At the very least, any AD law must aim to achieve an appropriate balance between compassion and patient autonomy on the one hand, and respect for human life generally and medical autonomy on the other. Protecting the vulnerable is a key issue. Likewise, not impacting negatively on societal attitudes towards the disabled and frail elderly, particularly those with dementia.

The present situation

Although the inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee of the House of Commons in 2023 extended to AD generally [ 2 ], for more than 20 years all the Bills introduced into Parliament have been limited to PAS. For a cluster of reasons, it seems that some form of PAS is likely to become legal in E&W within the next few years. The very supportive media coverage gives the impression that PAS is ‘a concept whose time has come’. Pro-AD activists claim that there is overwhelming public support. Every few months, a celebrity announces their intention to avail themselves of the services of Dignitas in Switzerland when ‘the time comes’, with renewed extensive media attention. Individual autonomy (‘self-rule’) is regarded as an unassailable trump card: ‘my life, my death’. AD Bills are at various stages of preparation in neighbouring jurisdictions (Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey); this adds to the growing sense of inevitability [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].

Some surveys have suggested that over 80% of the population in the UK are in favour of AD, although a recent one limited to PAS gave the lower figure of 65% [ 9 ]. It should also be noted that, in a survey in 2021 on behalf of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well, 10% of respondents thought AD meant providing hospice-type care to people who are dying, and 42% that it meant giving people who are dying the right to stop life-prolonging treatment. Fewer than half (43%) of respondents knew what the term ‘assisted dying’ actually meant [ 10 ]. This suggests that claims about the level of public support for AD should be interpreted with caution.

Existing models of physician-assisted suicide (PAS)

Switzerland, Oregon (USA), and Victoria (Australia) represent three models of PAS. In the USA, although the laws may not be completely identical in other states where PAS is permitted, they are all based on Oregon’s. Likewise in Australia, they are based on Victoria’s. Benelux and Canada will not be discussed because, in those countries, AD is almost always euthanasia.

In all three models, a doctor prescribes the lethal prescription after confirming the person has mental capacity, is aware of alternatives such as palliative-hospice care (PHC), the request is enduring, was not made under duress, and that the medical eligibility criteria are met. But in other respects, the models differ. In Switzerland, there is no prognostic limit, and no residency requirement. Suffering is not specifically mentioned in Oregon, just a prognosis of less than six months. Following a federal lawsuit in 2022, residency is no longer a requirement. In Victoria, residency and both suffering and a limited prognosis (generally six months but 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions) are prerequisites. The number of safeguards increases progressively across the three models.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, although four out of 26 cantons have laws concerning access to PAS in healthcare institutions, there is no federal law. However, it is possible throughout the country because of the wording in the Swiss Criminal Code (1942) which states that an offence is committed only if assistance is for selfish motives . In the absence of such motives, the assisting person is not criminally liable. Taking advantage of this loophole, two not-for-profit organisations called EXIT (German- and French-speaking, respectively) were set up in 1982 to facilitate PAS for residents in Switzerland with incurable progressive disease. Subsequently, Dignitas was set up to meet the needs of non-residents.

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) provides ethical guidance to doctors in its document Management of Dying and Death (revised 2022) [ 11 ]. The section on PAS is helpfully discussed within the general context of care of the dying. For example, it is stressed that:

‘The true role of physicians in the management of dying and death… involves relieving symptoms and supporting the patient. Their responsibilities do not include offering assisted suicide, nor are they obliged to perform it. Assisted suicide is not a medical action to which patients could claim to be entitled, even if it is a legally permissible activity’ [ 11 ].

The 2022 revised guidance has extended the eligibility for assisted suicide considerably. The former requirement that ‘the patient’s illness justifies the assumption that the end of life is near or can be expected to be near’ has been replaced by ‘the symptoms of disease and/or functional impairments are a source of intolerable suffering for the patient’ [ 11 ]. One reason for this change may be the fact that a review of practice from 1999 to 2018 indicated that over 50% of cases probably had not met the key criterion of a short life expectancy [ 12 ]. In this same period, the number of deaths by PAS rose steadily from 0.2 to 1.8% of all deaths [ 13 ].

For doctors willing to be involved, their role is limited to assessing the person’s decision-making capacity, confirming the constancy of their request, providing a statement about their medical condition, and subsequently prescribing a lethal dose of pentobarbital. The prescription is collected from the pharmacy by a volunteer from EXIT or Dignitas on the day of the assisted suicide. Most deaths take place at home or, in the case of Dignitas , in a room provided by the organisation. At present, because many hospices and palliative care units do not allow PAS on their premises, most patients return home for this. However, in French-speaking areas, hospitals increasingly allow PAS if a discharge is impractical. For those who return home, in case of a change of mind, their bed is kept available until confirmation of death has been received. Everything is carefully documented, and the police are notified immediately after the person has died.

Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act (DWDA) came into effect in 1997 and is held up by some as an example of how a PAS law can be safely enacted – described as ‘tried and trusted’ by Dignity in Dying . However, an analysis of the annual reports issued by the Oregon Health Authority between 1998 and 2023 gives grounds for caution [ 14 ]. Indeed, the Danish Ethics Council concluded recently that the Oregon model is not ‘sufficiently clear in [its] delineations, fair in [its] justifications for access, or sound in terms of control mechanisms’ [ 3 ].

Originally the DWDA was limited to residents but, in 2022, a federal lawsuit (brought by an Oregon doctor) forced a change which allows non-residents to access PAS within the state [ 14 ]. The DWDA allows people ≥ 18 years of age diagnosed with a terminal illness and expected to die within six months to end their lives through the self-administration of a lethal dose of drugs prescribed by a doctor. A Coordinating doctor and a Consulting (specialist) doctor determine whether the person is medically eligible, is not acting under duress, and that the request is enduring. The Oregon Health Authority must be informed when a prescription is written by the Coordinating doctor. The lethal dose can be collected by the patient or their representative and kept at home until the patient decides that the time has come to take it – without further reference to their doctor. In this model, there is no reference to ‘intolerable suffering’.

Only about 2/3 of the issued prescriptions are used. In Oregon over 25 years, the three most frequently reported end-of-life concerns behind the request for PAS have been a decreasing ability to participate in enjoyable activities (90%), loss of autonomy (90%), and loss of dignity (72%) – all more existential than medical. Inadequate pain control, or concern about it, featured in only 28%. Most patients (92%) died at home, and 91% were enrolled in hospice care (mostly home-based in the USA), although the nature and extent of that care is not specified [ 15 ].

In 2022, 146 doctors wrote 431 lethal prescriptions (1–51 prescriptions per doctor; most just one or two). Prescribing doctors were present at the time of death for 13% of the patients; other healthcare providers for another 13%, and volunteers for 18%. One patient died in hospital, and one in a hospice facility. Where known, time from ingestion until death ranged from 3 min to nearly 3 days, with a median time of 52 min. Almost all involved the drug combination DDMA (diazepam, digoxin, morphine, amitriptyline) ± phenobarbital. In 2022, AS accounted for 0.6% of all deaths.

In 2017, an unsuccessful Bill was introduced to allow surrogates to administer the drugs to those who had subsequently lost decisional capacity after receiving a lethal prescription, with proposals to extend the DWDA to allow euthanasia for those with dementia and those incapable of swallowing drugs.

Concern has been expressed that most of those dying by PAS are clients of Compassion and Choices , the AD advocacy organisation in Oregon, and discussion of alternatives may have been limited, particularly as the association between the patient and the prescribing doctor is sometimes < 1 week (median 3 months). A review of five patients whose details are in the public domain revealed inadequate exploration of their concerns and a bias in favour of PAS [ 16 ]. Further, despite a known incidence of depression of up to 40% in those with a genuine desire to hasten death, only three patients (0.7%) in 2022 were referred for psychological or psychiatric evaluation. Some patients have delayed ingesting the lethal medication for 2–4 years, thereby emphasizing the difficulty of determining the likely prognosis.

Victoria, Australia

The Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) law came into effect in 2019 [ 17 ]. Unlike Oregon, legislators had the benefit of 20 years of experience in other countries where AD Bills have been introduced and/or laws passed. As in Oregon, two doctors are involved: the Coordinating doctor, who initially informs the person about end-of-life-care options and supports, then assesses the person’s eligibility, and whether the request is voluntary and enduring; and the Consulting doctor, who re-assesses the patient’s request. Both doctors must be either a vocational general practitioner or a member of a specialist college, and one must have at least five years post-fellowship experience and experience in the patient’s condition.

Institutions can forbid VAD on their premises, and involvement by doctors is voluntary. Those volunteering must undertake the mandatory online ‘approved assessment training’ required by the law before they can participate [ 18 ]. Of those across the state who have volunteered, around 300 have ‘currently active’ profiles, representing about 1% of the total medical workforce; 60% are General Practitioners (GPs) [ 17 ]. Much of the work is unremunerated. Coordinating an application through to a patient’s death can take up to 60 h of a doctor’s time. As a result, because of inevitable time constraints, some doctors report undertaking less than ideal assessments and/or not being able to see their other patients because of the VAD workload [ 19 ].

Although the primary focus is PAS, the law extends to euthanasia (‘practitioner administration’) if a person is incapable of swallowing the medication. In this case, the lethal drugs are administered intravenously by the Coordinating doctor, who can delegate this duty to the Consulting doctor subject to agreement by both parties. The person must have an advanced, progressive, incurable disease or medical condition that is expected to cause death within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions, and is causing suffering that cannot be relieved to an extent considered tolerable to the person. The Victorian Government claims that, with 68 safeguards, the law is the safest and most conservative in the world [ 20 ]. However, the safeguards are not all aimed at patient safety; some, such as conscientious objection provisions, are explicitly labelled as ‘practitioner protections’. Although the process is complex, non-medical ‘Care Navigators’ are available to guide patients through the process. After initiating the process themselves, a person has to make three separate requests to end their life: an initial verbal request, a second written and witnessed request, and a final verbal request. The time between the first and final request must be at least 9 days.

The most striking safeguard is that doctors and other healthcare professionals are forbidden to initiate discussions about AD. They can only respond to a patient’s direct request for information. There is guidance as to what may or may not constitute a direct request, which needs to be specific and explicit. This is intended to avoid coercion or suggestion, but not to discourage discussion. Requests can only be initiated by the person and cannot be done via telehealth [ 18 ]. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Pharmacy Service have sole responsibility for checking for necessary authorisation permits, and preparing and supplying the lethal drugs. The cocktail of drugs is delivered in a locked box to eligible patients in their homes across the state, and a contact person is appointed who will be responsible for returning the medication if unused after the person has died. A list of instructions on how to mix and drink the lethal drugs are included. As in Oregon, people drink the lethal dose at a time of their choosing. In 2021–2022, AD deaths amounted to 0.58% of all deaths.

• Vulnerability

In October 2023, the Danish Ethics Council published a report in response to a request from the Danish Parliament’s Health Committee to issue a statement which could be included as part of the basis for the Danish Parliament’s discussions of and decision on the citizens’ proposal that there should be legislation permitting AD [ 3 ]. The Council concluded that: ‘The only thing that will be able to protect the lives and respect of those who are most vulnerable in society will be an unexceptional ban’ . It pointed out that AD risks causing unacceptable changes to basic norms in society, the health care system and human outlook more generally. The very existence of an offer of AD will decisively change ideas about old age, infirmity, dying, and quality of life. In the Council’s opinion, if AD becomes an option, there is too great a risk that it will become an expectation aimed at certain groups in society.

Vulnerability is seen in all strata of society, often stemming from social isolation and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. The most vulnerable include those who feel a burden. Those in despair will be more likely to make a request for AD, and no law can prevent this. Vulnerability is also associated with a lack of continuity in care. When life is hard, everyone without exception needs reliable, trustworthy human support to enable them to cope. The most fundamental human fear is that we will be abandoned, and the corresponding fundamental hope is that we will not be. Non-abandonment is dependent on continuity of care – not just reactive but pro-active with, for example, a ‘hot-line’ to a named GP and/or nurse. Without this, patients feel abandoned and worthless; symptoms escalate coupled with a sense of despair. In contrast, continuity of care affirms to patients that they still matter and that they are still persons of worth.

Unfortunately, continuity of care is increasingly difficult to access in the UK now that the National Health Service (NHS) is understaffed and overworked, particularly in Primary Care. In recent years, access to one’s named GP has become much harder, sometimes impossible. Arranging an appointment has generally become more complicated – now often necessitating an online request, to be ‘triaged’, with a response promised within 24 h. It is challenging and off-putting. Without ready access, people feel abandoned and hopeless, resulting in despair.

Some of the most vocal opponents of PAS are among the disabled and disability associations because they fear that its availability, even if limited to the terminally ill, will have a negative impact on attitudes to disability. ‘Disableism’ is rife in Britain, with its tendency to value the worth of a life in terms of its economic utility to society. PAS could well lead to a further narrowing down of what is viewed as a liveable and dignified life, with some people’s lives being considered worthless, merely an economic drain on society’s resources. Even in the UK, access to quality PHC is still patchy. Pressure to opt for AD would most likely increase as the health budget becomes further squeezed. Based on experience in other countries, it is naïve to believe that an incremental widening of the eligibility criteria will not happen. In this connection, it should be noted that, in the Netherlands, the mainstream political parties have expressed support for the Completed Life Initiative [ 21 ]. If this became law, this would permit euthanasia for those over the age of 74 who are ‘tired of life’. Thus, legalising AD should not simply be regarded as a small step to bring relief to a few. In terms of possible unwanted consequences, it is a massive step.

A further problem is the inability of many doctors to relinquish the goal of ‘fixing the problem’. This can lead to a feeling of failure, and an inclination to withdraw – with death seen as the only way to deal with the suffering. Doctors who cannot switch from a cure to a comfort modus operandi when it is appropriate may well unconsciously coerce patients towards AD. There are numerous anecdotes supporting this contention [ 22 ]. Such unwitting abuse is also linked to unconscious bias stemming from the doctor’s own fear of death [ 23 ]. It will become a bigger problem if the expectation shifts towards routinely informing potentially eligible patients about AD as one of their options to be considered. In Canada, the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) recommends that all who might qualify for MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) should be told about it as an option [ 24 ]. Offering MAiD to a patient who has not raised it could be interpreted as meaning that their suffering is likely to become intolerable, and that MAiD is the recommended way out, thereby impacting negatively on the patient’s resilience. On the other hand, a total prohibition on raising the subject, as in Victoria, could prevent someone from exercising their legal right through ignorance [ 25 ].

Hidden danger: AD resulting in more suffering?

Even in the absence of AD, some people decline referral to PHC despite unrelieved pain and/or other distressing symptoms because they fear they will be ‘drugged to death’. This is a real phenomenon well-known to PHC professionals (in fact, PHC typically prolongs survival by weeks or months as a result of, inter alia , improved comfort, sleep, and appetite.) This unfounded fear will most likely be enhanced if AD is legalized, particularly if PHC is involved.

Autonomy in medicine is based on a partnership between doctors and patients, each respecting the autonomy of the other [ 26 ]. This relational model of decision-making incorporates mutual respect and trust, dialogue, and informed negotiation. It contrasts with ‘consumer autonomy’ where the patient demands specific interventions from the doctor, regardless of established medical norms. In this scenario, the doctor is reduced to being an agent for carrying out a patient’s preferences (‘my legal right’) – a technician, no longer a professional. It becomes a transactional relationship (that of purchaser and supplier) rather than a partnership.

It is generally accepted that people have the right to self-determination provided their actions do not harm others. However, exercising personal autonomy (‘self-rule’) means making a choice. Informed choice requires reliable information about relevant options. Without this, autonomy is not valid. Disturbingly, official reports about AD do not specify the nature of the PHC received by those opting for AD. What is known is that to varying degrees there is poor access to palliative care in all the jurisdictions where AD is permitted. For example, in Canada, only half of the population are able access any form of palliative care [ 27 ].

Further, the extent to which an autonomously expressed wish for AD should be acted on must be balanced against the rights of the other people involved, notably the family and health professionals. From a medical point of view, AD will always be a ‘last resort’ option: a patient must be suffering from intractable symptoms and/or functional impairment caused by an incurable disease with no realistic expectation of relief within an acceptable time frame. Medical involvement would be unethical, for example, in healthy elderly people simply ‘tired of life’ [ 11 ].

It is imperative that conscientious objection by doctors and other healthcare professionals is guaranteed, as in the three models of AS described above. Lord Joffe, who introduced two AD Bills in the House of Lords 15–20 years ago, is reputed to have said that, if doctors objected to AD, they should be forced to comply, thereby revealing a total misunderstanding of the doctor’s professional role. Such high-handedness feels threatening . If Lord Joffe’s suggestion was adopted, it would turn doctors into technicians. In 2012, the White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS set out a vision of a health service which puts patients and the public first, where ‘no decision about me, without me’ is the norm. It included proposals to give patients more say over their care and treatment with more opportunity to make informed autonomous choices. The slogan should be applied equally to doctors in relation to AD. Indeed, the British Medical Association (BMA) states that any legislation to permit AD should be based on an ‘opt-in’ model, so that only those doctors who positively choose to participate can do so. Doctors who opt in to provide the service should also be able to choose which parts of the service they are willing to provide (e.g. assessing eligibility and/or prescribing and/or administering drugs to eligible patients) [ 28 ].

In 2020, the BMA surveyed its members about their attitudes to AD [ 29 ]. The response rate was only 19%, thereby casting doubt on whether the results truly represent the views of the membership. In the answers to ‘In principle, do you support or oppose a change in the law to permit doctors to prescribe drugs for eligible patients to self-administer to end their own life?’, 50% said they would support, 39% would oppose, and 11% were undecided. (For administration by doctors (euthanasia), only 37% were in favour, 46% against, 17% undecided.) When broken down into specialties, in relation to AS, Palliative Medicine doctors were 76% against, 14% in favour, and 10% undecided. There were also majorities against in Clinical and Medical Oncology, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Renal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, and General Practice [ 29 , pp. 103–105].

In contrast, respondents who had voted for legal change contained a majority of retired doctors, medical students and those in specialties which involve little or no contact with terminally or otherwise incurably ill patients. It seems that the more doctors are involved in caring for dying patients, the greater the likelihood that they will oppose a change in the law. Further, in relation to AS, when asked if they would personally be willing to participate, a majority said they would not (45% vs. 36%, and 19% undecided) [ 29 ]. Previously in 2019, in a survey by the Royal College of Physicians of London, 85% of Palliative medicine doctors were against a change in the law, a similar number said they would refuse to participate in AD, and only 5% were willing to assist suicide themselves [ 30 ].

These figures may seem bizarre. Why should doctors working in PHC be those most strongly against a change in the law, and would want not to be involved? After all, these are the doctors most likely to witness suffering at the end of life. It is often claimed that opposition to AD stems from blindly accepted religious dogma. However, as in other areas of medicine, many palliative care doctors are not religious. (And don’t forget Humanists against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia [ 31 ]). But whatever the reasons, the fact remains that most PHC doctors are against a change in the law and would strongly object if any form of AD was integrated into PHC.

Perhaps the answer to this conundrum can be found in a recent Swiss study of PHC doctors, ‘ How is it possible that at times we can be physicians and at times assistants in suicide? ’ [ 32 ]. All the doctors interviewed stated that PHC and assisted suicide are diametrically opposed approaches, based on different philosophies. In PHC, there is a commitment to non-abandonment : ‘Whatever happens, we will stay beside you every step of the way. Together we will get through this’. Compassionate presence and compassionate listening together demonstrate that the patient still matters and is still a person of worth. This is the essence of palliative care. It lightens the patient’s load of cares by, inter alia , decreasing their isolation and sense of worthlessness. In such an environment almost all patients lose their wish to hasten death. This is the essence of PHC, and it is difficult to switch to an alternative approach. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work looking in two diametrically opposite directions .

• Disinformation

Regrettably, those campaigning for AD consistently underestimate the potential harms associated with a change in the law [ 4 , 24 ]. Further, using the phrase ‘dying with dignity’ to describe AD, although a brilliant tactical move, is tantamount to disinformation. Likewise, naming the PAS statute in Oregon as the ‘Death with Dignity Act’. These phrases are also widely used in the media. As a result, many people now imagine that anything other than AD will be extremely distressing and undignified. In fact, ‘dying with dignity’ is equally applicable to quality end-of-life care. ‘Dignity in care’ is used as a way of describing the human side of medical care generally – with many scientific studies demonstrating what dignity means to patients and ways of enhancing it [ 33 ].

The choice of patients’ stories used to support the case for AD is also disturbing. Some are clear examples of poor care. If poor care is driving people to contemplate AD, this is not a truly autonomous decision, but one forced on the patient because of the absence of choice. Equally upsetting have been examples of patients with motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS). It has been suggested that the only alternative to AD is suffocating to death in great distress when non-invasive assisted ventilation (NIV) is discontinued at the patient’s request. This is fearmongering and causes great unnecessary distress. There is a well-established protocol for individually-tailored anticipatory sedation to allow a patient to be unaware while they die following the removal of assisted ventilation [ 34 ].

Seeking the ‘least worse’ option

Given the widespread disquiet felt by doctors, a law with minimal medical involvement would be the most equitable , such as in Switzerland and Oregon. This makes good sense given that the three most frequently reported end-of-life concerns behind the request for PAS in Oregon are more existential than medical: a decreasing ability to participate in enjoyable activities (90%), loss of autonomy (90%), and loss of dignity (72%) [ 15 ]. The Swiss model is unlikely to appeal to legislators in E&W, even though theoretically it could simply mean changing the Suicide Act 1961. At present this states that, without exception, it is an offence to assist or encourage another person’s suicide.

The most recent PAS Bill introduced in the UK Parliament was in 2021 by Baroness Meacher in the House of Lords. A novel feature in the Bill was the need for the patient’s eligibility and voluntary request to be ratified by the High Court (Family Division) before the lethal drug(s) could be dispensed. As in Oregon, there was no mention of suffering, just a terminal illness with an expected prognosis of under six months. Psychiatric illness alone, including depression, was specifically excluded as an eligibility criterion. However, it would not simply be a case of a patient receiving a lethal prescription to use as and when they decide (as in Oregon and Victoria). The prescription would be delivered by a doctor (or authorised nurse) immediately before self-administration who would remain while the patient self-administered the medicine and has died (or decided not to take the medicine). The doctor/nurse would prepare the lethal dose for self-administration and, if necessary ‘prepare a medical device’ (a syringe and intravenous cannula) to facilitate this and ‘assist the person to ingest or otherwise self-administer the medicine’. As in Victoria, the process would consume many hours of medical time.

Judging by its website, Dignity in Dying seems to be favouring an ‘Oregon mark 2’ law. Like the Meacher Bill, this would include ratification by the High Court of all requests for PAS. However, it is not clear whether the lethal drug(s) would be delivered to the patient’s home for use ‘just in case’ as in Oregon or mimic the more complicated Meacher Bill.

Its website also states that ‘doctors, patients and the public need to have confidence that the law on AD will work in practice, will be safe and will remain unchanged’. In relation to this latter point, given all the available evidence, this is wishful thinking. The case for AD is stronger in relation to degenerative neurological disorders with a longer prognosis. Some people with progressive brain failure (dementia) will want to register for AD while they still have capacity, to be actioned when they are no longer able to interact meaningfully with those around them. However, this can lead to problems if they become distressed at attempts to administer oral or intravenous drugs [ 35 ].

Conclusions

Any form of AD will have collateral harmful consequences for both medical care and society in general. The challenge is to find the ‘least worse’ option. A lack of readily available high-quality palliative care will always be coercive, there will always be abuse, the boundaries of the law will always be stretched, and a wrong diagnosis will mean that some people will die unnecessarily [ 12 , 24 ].

It is imperative that conscientious objection by doctors and other healthcare professionals is guaranteed in law and fully respected in practice. PAS should not be seen as part of healthcare provision. The BMA also holds this view [ 28 ]. One way to achieve this would be for PAS to be delegated to a stand-alone Department for Assisted Dying , completely separate from the NHS and with its own budget. Victoria almost achieves this with its combination of Care Navigators, mandatory training for participating doctors, and a separate Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Pharmacy Service . It could be overseen by lawyers or judges and operated by trained technicians [ 36 ]. Doctors would be required only to confirm that a patient is medically eligible. Requests would be carefully processed without interfering in a patient’s clinical care, and in a way which would not undermine suicide prevention policies. Other options have proposed incorporating, for example, a review panel comprising a lawyer, a healthcare professional and an ethicist, backed up if necessary by an ombudsman [ 37 , 38 ].

Further, alongside a de-medicalised model of AS, there is an urgent need to improve the provision of care for all terminally ill patients [ 39 ]. Dignity in Dying’s website states that ‘As well as campaigning to change the law on assisted dying we also support better end-of-life care which is accessible to all.’ Regrettably, there is no evidence of active campaigning on its part in this respect.

Data availability

All the data referred to are in the public domain.

Abbreviations

assisted dying

assisted suicide

British Medical Association

Death with Dignity Act (Oregon, USA)

England and Wales

general practitioner (primary care doctor)

medical assistance in dying

motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

National Health Service (England and Wales)

non-invasive ventilation

physician-assisted suicide

palliative-hospice care

Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences

United Kingdom

voluntary assisted dying

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges with gratitude the advice received from Aaron Wong (Australia) and Martyna Tomczyk (Switzerland), and the helpful suggestions made by the two referees.

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The author is one of the pioneers of hospice and palliative care in the UK, working first as Research Fellow in Therapeutics at St Christopher’s Hospice, London, in the early 1970s, followed by 25 years in Oxford at a hospice/palliative care unit in one of the University Hospitals. For many years he was Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care. He has taught in over 40 countries and is the author or editor of several widely acclaimed textbooks, notably the Palliative Care Formulary.

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Twycross, R. Assisted dying: principles, possibilities, and practicalities. An English physician’s perspective. BMC Palliat Care 23 , 99 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01422-6

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Received : 29 September 2023

Accepted : 26 March 2024

Published : 13 April 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01422-6

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