Can a ghost do it better?

We have a set of Web pages devoted to ghostwriting and self-publishing. Be sure to visit this site.

There's a lot of negative talk these days about medical writing written by a third party with a doctor's name given as the author. The anger rises from the perception that pharmaceutical firms are paying physicians to use their medical credentiaIs to promote new medications.

The physician whose name appears as the author when an expert hired by the pharmaceutical company actually wrote the article is seen as dishonest and unprofessional.

Some hospitals and other care providers purchase generic articles about good health and place a doctor's name as the author, with the doctor's permission. You may view this as ethical or not, but be aware that the general public tends to get upset when they learn that material they thought was written by their doctor was purchased from a central source that specializes in writing generic or promotional material.

Whether you should allow your name or credentials to be used as the author of materials you did not write is usually an ethical decision only you can make. However, laws in your state or rules in force by your employing organization may prohibit such endorsements.

What a doctor's ghost should do

Your ghost should reflect your perspective and style. Under your direction, the ghost may write the entire book, but you are still considered to be the book's author. This means that you bear full legal responsibility for the contents of your book. In most cases you do not need to place the ghostwriter's name on the cover as the co-author or "as told to." It's your book.

Your ghost should zero in on your subject matter and organize and write it to reach your audience. The ghost is skilled in sensing trends, salient points and "big issues" to highlight in your book.

During the course of writing your book, you and your ghost will probably become good friends. But when the book is done, it's your book. If there are radio or TV or newspaper interviews, you are the one who gets the spotlight. If you self-publish, you also get the financial rewards for producing your book.

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