A case report is one of the most common types of publications among medical professionals. In such articles, doctors describe unique cases of treatment or diagnosis of diseases for which there is little to no information available. However, when preparing such works, it is extremely important to take ethical standards into account, since this affects not only the quality of the publication but also the researcher’s reputation. What aspects should be considered in the process of writing a case report? Find out about this and more in our article.
What should you know about a case report?
Case report – is a scientific publication in the field of medicine that focuses on a detailed analysis of a single clinical case. Such an article describes a unique situation from a doctor’s practice, including the symptoms of the disease, diagnostic methods, treatment approach, and the subsequent course of the patient’s condition.
Cases for a case report are selected when they are of interest to the medical community due to their uniqueness. Their key characteristics include:
- diseases with atypical or rare symptoms;
- identification of unexpected relationships between different pathologies or their manifestations;
- non-standard situations arising during diagnosis or therapy;
- the use of innovative or experimental treatment methods;
- new data on the causes or development of the disease or its side effects that are significant for science.
In one of our previous articles, we explained in detail the types of such publications and the key stages of their preparation.
Ethics of case reports: which standards should be taken into account?
The preparation of a case report requires not only professional knowledge but also a responsible approach to ethical standards. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), in its guidance on ethical approval for case reports, emphasizes two key aspects: the need for ethical approval for the study and the patient’s consent to the publication of personal data.
Below we will review the main recommendations based on COPE standards as well as general principles for writing such articles.
1. Informed consent of the patient
Before publishing a case report, it is necessary to obtain written consent from the patient or their legal representative. The consent must clearly state that information about the clinical case will be made public. The patient should be informed about the purpose of the publication, possible risks (for example, disclosure of personal data), and the right to refuse participation without affecting the quality of their treatment. If it is impossible to obtain consent from the patient due to death or incapacity, it may be provided by relatives or the ethics committee.
COPE emphasizes that journals must collect evidence of such consent for any study involving humans, regardless of its scale. Since the legal procedures for consent may vary between countries, journals may provide authors with template forms that comply with COPE recommendations.
2. Ensuring confidentiality
To protect the patient’s privacy, any identifying data such as name, date of birth, address, or medical record number must be completely removed. Special attention should be paid to unique details that could inadvertently reveal the person’s identity, for example, rare diagnoses in small communities. If the article uses images (X-rays, clinical photos), they must not contain identifying information, and their publication requires additional consent.
3. Approval of the ethics committee
Some journals or countries require prior approval from an ethics committee for publishing a case report. This aspect is especially important when dealing with sensitive data or experimental methods. Therefore, before submitting the article, it is necessary to check the requirements of the chosen journal regarding ethical approval.
Who can provide approval:
- The local ethics committee (Institutional Review Board, IRB) at your medical institution or university;
- A regional or national ethics commission (in countries with a centralized structure);
- The ethics committee of the hospital or medical faculty if the research was conducted in a clinical facility.
4. Honesty and accuracy of data
Authors must avoid any manipulation of data that could create a false impression of the case’s significance. All clinical details, diagnostic methods, and results must be presented truthfully. If certain information is limited or unavailable, this should be clearly stated to avoid misleading readers.
5. Avoiding conflict of interest
Authors are obliged to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as financial connections with pharmaceutical companies or other organizations that may influence the interpretation of the case. Transparency in this matter increases the credibility of the publication.
6. Compliance with international standards
When preparing a case report, it is important to follow international ethical guidelines such as the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) recommendations, or the standards of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Many medical journals require authors to confirm compliance with these standards.
7. Avoiding stigmatization
When describing a case, avoid wording that could stigmatize certain diseases or disorders. What does this mean? Stigmatization refers to the use of wording, images, or context that may create a negative attitude in the reader toward the patient or a group of people based on their diagnosis, origin, lifestyle, or social status.
In other words, this happens when a text reinforces prejudice, discriminatory stereotypes, or associates a disease with a person’s “fault.”
8. Avoiding data duplication
If the case report is based on data that have already been published in another form, this must be clearly stated to avoid self-plagiarism or duplicate publication. Transparency in this matter is part of the author’s ethical responsibility.
Since the foundation of a case report is the personal story of a patient, it is extremely important that the author approaches the ethical aspects of writing it responsibly. It is essential to remember that the priority should be the individual’s confidentiality, right to privacy, and protection of personal data, regardless of the educational or scientific value of the clinical case.
The company Scientific Publications is ready to assist you with publication in a medical journal. Our specialists will audit your article, format it according to the journal’s requirements, and accompany it until successful publication. Would you like to learn more about our service and get a free consultation? Then leave your contact details in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together to the new scientific achievements!
