A medical advisor provides accurate and useful data on medical conditions or specific cases to organizations and individuals. Careers in this field can be found in a variety of settings and typically require a medical degree as well as clinical practice experience. A history of publication credits, involvement in research, and conference presentations all indicate that a medical advisor is familiar with the field and can provide up-to-date information on demand, which increases authority.
A medical advisor may be used in film, television, and other forms of media to ensure that information is communicated accurately and appropriately. In fictional settings, this can include consultants to ensure that a condition or injury is realistically depicted and handled; for example, a television show might want a character to get cancer and would use a medical advisor to assist with scripting. Medical advisors check for accuracy and confirm that organizations are disseminating accurate information in news reporting.
Medical advisors are also used advocacy and welfare organizations to help with the preparation of materials and presentations. A group advocating for better disease treatment may have a medical advisor review publications to ensure accuracy, and advisors may be asked to present information to members in workshops and at conferences. Medical advisors also keep their employers informed about new developments in the field, such as promising new treatments or reevaluations of existing treatment protocols.
Medical organizations that disseminate medical information to members or the general public may want to hire a medical advisor to give their publications credibility. Doctors may, for example, review articles on medical topics for informational websites to check for inaccuracies, add clarifications, and ensure that the data is current. This can help organizations manage their liability while also increasing trust among visitors who want to know that the information they’re relying on is accurate. They usually include a disclaimer noting that they are not providing medical advice or establishing a doctor-patient relationship in addition to having doctors review their articles.
A medical advisor can also play a role in a legal setting, where medical expert witnesses may be called to testify in a case. They provide information about the nature of a legal situation; a medical advisor, for example, could be involved in a malpractice case or testify about injuries discovered on a murder victim. Both sides of a case have the right to retain advisors and cross-examine witnesses from the other side.