Medical Daily UK Mission Statement

At Medical Daily UK, we deliver authoritative, accessible journalism covering health, medicine, science, wellness and medical developments, with a focus on how these issues affect people in the UK and around the world.

We are committed to accuracy, editorial independence, responsible reporting and evidence-based journalism. Our newsroom provides readers with clear, useful and understandable information while maintaining the highest standards of fairness, transparency and accountability.

Because health and medical information can directly affect people's decisions and wellbeing, we take particular care to distinguish established evidence from emerging research, expert opinion, anecdotal claims and speculation.

Who We Are

Medical Daily UK is a digital-first publication focused on health, medicine, science, wellness and the people and developments shaping these fields.

We serve a global readership with accessible, fact-based reporting, explainers, analysis and coverage of scientific and medical developments.

Our journalism aims to make complex health and scientific information understandable without oversimplifying the evidence.

You can contact us at: [email protected]

Ownership

Medical Daily UK is owned by IBTimes LLC, a subsidiary of IBT Media Inc., registered at 347 W 36th St, Floor 5, New York, NY 10018, and is operated by IBT Media Ltd, a UK-registered company at Unit 121, 77 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SH.

Further information about IBT Media Inc. can be found at our corporate website: ibt.media.

Ownership has no influence over editorial content. Our editorial team operates independently and is expected to remain free from commercial, political or proprietary pressure.

Ethics Policy

Medical Daily UK adheres to high standards of ethical journalism. Our core principles are:

• Accuracy and Attribution: We strive to report accurately and clearly attribute information to credible sources.
• Evidence: Health and medical claims should be supported by appropriate scientific or medical evidence.
• Transparency: We disclose relevant conflicts of interest and commercial relationships.
• Integrity: Journalists must never accept gifts, payments or favours in exchange for coverage.
• Independence: Reporters must disclose personal or financial interests that could affect their reporting.
• Impartiality: Journalists must distinguish reporting from personal opinion and avoid advocacy that compromises editorial independence.
• Responsibility: We recognise that inaccurate or misleading health information can cause harm and therefore apply additional scrutiny to medical claims.

Any actual or perceived conflict of interest must be disclosed to senior editorial leadership immediately.

Fact-Checking

Medical Daily UK reporters are responsible for the accuracy of their stories. Editors conduct additional fact-checking and review where appropriate, particularly for stories involving medical claims, scientific research, treatments, medications or public health.

Reporters must:

• Verify names, dates, statistics, study findings and other factual information.
• Use credible, primary and verifiable sources wherever possible.
• Review the original research rather than relying solely on secondary reporting.
• Check whether scientific studies have been peer reviewed where relevant.
• Identify the study type and understand its limitations.
• Distinguish correlation from causation.
• Avoid presenting preliminary findings as established fact.
• Scrutinise claims such as "first", "largest", "breakthrough", "cure" or "miracle".
• Identify potential conflicts of interest among researchers, experts and organisations.
• Ask: Who is the source? Can they reliably know this? What evidence supports the claim? What is their interest in making the claim?

Opinion and commentary must also be based on accurate and verifiable facts.

Scientific and Medical Research

Medical Daily UK takes particular care when reporting scientific and medical research.

Journalists should, where possible:

• Identify the institution or researchers responsible for the study.
• Link to or identify the original study or scientific publication where appropriate.
• State whether research has been peer reviewed.
• Explain the type of study, such as observational, randomised controlled trial, systematic review or laboratory research.
• Identify the size and relevant characteristics of the study population.
• Distinguish research conducted in humans from research conducted in animals, cells or laboratory models.
• Explain significant limitations.
• Avoid implying that an association proves causation.
• Avoid exaggerating findings.
• Put relative risks into appropriate context and provide absolute figures where available.
• State when findings are preliminary or require further research.
• Seek independent expert comment where appropriate.

A single study should not normally be presented as definitive evidence where the wider scientific literature is more nuanced or contradictory.

Health and Medical Advice

Medical Daily UK provides general informational and educational journalism and does not provide individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Articles should not instruct readers to diagnose themselves or replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

Where appropriate, health stories should make clear that readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding individual symptoms, diagnoses, medications or treatments.

Journalists must take particular care with:

• Medical conditions and symptoms.
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Supplements and alternative treatments.
• Surgical procedures.
• Mental health.
• Pregnancy and reproductive health.
• Children's health.
• Nutrition and weight management.
• Cancer.
• Infectious diseases.
• Public health.
• Experimental or emerging treatments.

Unproven treatments must not be presented as established medical fact.

Bylines

Stories are bylined unless there is a compelling editorial or safety reason for anonymity.

Anonymous bylines must be approved by senior editorial leadership.

Bylines must accurately reflect the person or people responsible for the journalism.

Sourcing

• Sources must be identified clearly and accurately wherever possible.
• Anonymous sources may only be used with editor approval and where there is a clear editorial justification.
• We do not pay sources for information.
• Scientific studies should be identified by their authors, institution, journal or other appropriate source information.
• Press releases should not be treated as independent verification.
• Other media outlets may be cited where they are credible and relevant, but original sources should be used wherever reasonably possible.
• Social media posts should be independently verified before being treated as factual evidence.

Fairness and Balance

Medical Daily UK seeks to provide fair and accurate representation of relevant parties.

• Individuals and organisations criticised or accused in a story should be given a reasonable opportunity to respond where appropriate.
• Where comment is declined, this should be stated where editorially relevant.
• Journalists must distinguish clearly between fact, evidence, analysis and opinion.
• Medical controversies should be presented accurately without creating false equivalence between established scientific evidence and unsupported claims.
• Race, ethnicity, disability, gender, age or other personal characteristics should only be referenced when relevant and necessary to the story.

Corrections Policy

We are committed to correcting errors swiftly, transparently and appropriately.

• Minor fixes, such as typographical or grammatical errors, may be corrected without a formal correction notice where they do not affect meaning.
• Factual errors should be corrected promptly and, where appropriate, accompanied by an editor-approved correction notice.
• Significant errors involving medical information, statistics, quotations, study findings or allegations should receive particular scrutiny.
• Major corrections or retractions should be clearly identified and must not simply be removed without an appropriate editorial record.

To request a correction, email [email protected]with the article title, URL and details of the concern.

Plagiarism and Fabrication

Plagiarism, fabrication and deliberate misrepresentation are strictly prohibited.

• Journalists must never present another person's work, ideas, reporting or research as their own.
• Sources and quotations must be accurately attributed.
• Research findings must not be invented, altered or deliberately misrepresented.
• Quotes must not be fabricated or materially altered.
• Images must not be manipulated in a misleading manner.
• Previously published material must be appropriately attributed and linked where required.

Any deliberate fabrication or serious plagiarism is a serious disciplinary matter and may result in termination.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

Medical Daily UK does not use generative AI to replace journalists or editorial judgement.

AI tools may be used for limited supporting purposes, such as research assistance, transcription, language refinement or data analysis, subject to appropriate human oversight.

Where AI tools are used:

• Journalists remain responsible for the accuracy of the final work.
• All factual information must be independently verified.
• AI-generated information must not be treated as an authoritative source.
• AI tools must not be used to fabricate quotes, sources, studies, statistics or other factual information.
• Confidential or sensitive information must not be entered into AI tools without appropriate authorisation.
• AI-generated images must not be presented as authentic photographs.
• Material substantially generated by AI must not be published without appropriate editorial review and approval.

AI tools cannot be accountable to readers. Our journalists and editors are.

Social Media Policy

Medical Daily UK staff are expected to behave professionally on both personal and professional social media accounts.

Staff should:

• Avoid posts that could reasonably undermine their editorial impartiality.
• Never share confidential or unpublished company or editorial information.
• Avoid discriminatory, harassing or abusive conduct.
• Clearly distinguish personal opinions from Medical Daily UK editorial positions.
• Verify information before sharing it as factual.
• Avoid promoting unverified medical claims or misinformation.
• Disclose relevant professional or commercial relationships where appropriate.

Journalists should be mindful that their public social media activity may affect readers' perception of their editorial independence.

Coverage of Sensitive Health Stories

When reporting on sensitive health matters, journalists should prioritise accuracy, dignity and the wellbeing of individuals involved.

Particular care should be taken when covering:

• Suicide and self-harm.
• Eating disorders.
• Serious illness.
• Terminal illness.
• Mental health.
• Sexual health.
• Abuse and trauma.
• Bereavement.
• Children's health.
• Medical emergencies.

We avoid unnecessary graphic detail, sensationalism and potentially harmful descriptions.

When reporting on suicide, we use responsible language such as "died by suicide" rather than "committed suicide".

We do not publish detailed descriptions of suicide methods unless there is an exceptional and clearly justified public-interest reason.

Medical Professionals and Experts

When quoting doctors, researchers, scientists or other health professionals, journalists should establish their relevant qualifications and expertise.

A person's professional title alone does not establish expertise in every medical or scientific subject.

Where appropriate, journalists should identify:

• Professional qualifications.
• Relevant area of expertise.
• Institution or organisation.
• Relevant research or professional role.
• Any significant conflicts of interest.

Experts should not be presented as independent commentators where they have a relevant undisclosed financial or professional interest in the subject being covered.

Commercial and Sponsored Content

Editorial content must remain independent from commercial interests.

Advertising, sponsored content, affiliate content and other commercial material should be clearly distinguished from independent editorial journalism.

Commercial relationships must not determine editorial conclusions, headlines or coverage.

Where content contains affiliate links or commercial relationships, these should be disclosed in accordance with applicable law and platform requirements.

Privacy and Personal Information

Medical Daily UK respects the privacy of individuals.

Journalists must consider whether publishing personal information is justified by a clear editorial purpose and public interest.

Particular care must be taken with sensitive personal information, including:

• Medical conditions.
• Medical records.
• Mental health information.
• Information concerning children.
• Home addresses.
• Private contact details.
• Personal financial information.
• Identifying information about vulnerable individuals.

The fact that information is available online does not automatically mean that it is appropriate to republish it.

Our Privacy Policy explains how Medical Daily UK collects, uses and protects personal information.

Diversity and Inclusion

Medical Daily UK is committed to fair, accurate and inclusive journalism.

• We welcome diverse perspectives in our coverage.
• We challenge stereotypes and avoid discriminatory language.
• We strive for accurate and respectful representation.
• We engage with underrepresented communities where relevant to our reporting.
• Personal characteristics should not be mentioned unless they are relevant to the story.
• We avoid language that unnecessarily stigmatises people with medical conditions, disabilities or mental health conditions.

Reader Feedback and Complaints

We welcome feedback, corrections and constructive criticism.

You can contact us at [email protected].

Editorial complaints and significant concerns may be reviewed by senior editorial leadership.

If you believe an article contains an error, misleading medical information, unfair treatment or another editorial concern, please provide:

• The article title.
• The article URL.
• The specific passage or claim concerned.
• The reason you believe it is inaccurate or inappropriate.
• Any supporting evidence or documentation.

We will review legitimate concerns and make corrections or other appropriate changes where necessary.