Can I write a case report on myself? and as a single author?

[bbentertainment]

Long story short: 4th year med student; I have been following my PCP for a few years for a rare presentation of a specific disorder. Usually see him every year or so just for follow-up as it is under control.

Was recently thinking about writing up a case report about it myself and had started a draft and tried to call PCP office to ask him about it.
1.) is this ethical/allowed?
2.) I have tried calling his office to inquire if he would be okay with me doing this and if he would want to be part of it. Secretaries have said they'd leave him a msg but I still haven't gotten a call back and dont have a f/u for a while. (from what i understand and from searching online..my PCP is kinda old school and isn't into any research).

Given the above, am i allowed to write a case report on myself? Can I submit one as a single author, or does a case report always require a physician to be on it?
Was just wondering if this is possible and if so would like to work on one for eras

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[lawrencewellsbourne]

you can absolutely do it, some of the greatest achievements in science and medicine were accomplished this way.
you are definitely going to need a research advisor.

 

[7331poas]

Long story short: 4th year med student; I have been following my PCP for a few years for a rare presentation of a specific disorder. Usually see him every year or so just for follow-up as it is under control.

Was recently thinking about writing up a case report about it myself and had started a draft and tried to call PCP office to ask him about it.
1.) is this ethical/allowed?
2.) I have tried calling his office to inquire if he would be okay with me doing this and if he would want to be part of it. Secretaries have said they'd leave him a msg but I still haven't gotten a call back and dont have a f/u for a while. (from what i understand and from searching online..my PCP is kinda old school and isn't into any research).

Given the above, am i allowed to write a case report on myself? Can I submit one as a single author, or does a case report always require a physician to be on it?
Was just wondering if this is possible and if so would like to work on one for eras

Im confused. Are you the patient here? Are you sure that your case is actually novel?

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Im confused. Are you the patient here? Are you sure that your case is actually novel?

He said rare not novel.

 

[7331poas]

He said rare not novel.

Ill rephrase: are you sure your case is actually publishable?

 

[bbentertainment]

Ill rephrase: are you sure your case is actually publishable?

Done some lit review and haven't seen much on this specific presentation. To answer the above poster, yes I would be the patient.
I guess ultimately up to a reviewer if they would accept the case report after i submitted.

I guess my main question is still: am i allowed to do this? and can i write it myself as the only author?

 

[ortnakas]

Done some lit review and haven't seen much on this specific presentation. To answer the above poster, yes I would be the patient.
I guess ultimately up to a reviewer if they would accept the case report after i submitted.

I guess my main question is still: am i allowed to do this? and can i write it myself as the only author?

Yes you are allowed
Yes you can but a senior author will make it more credible (and more likely to be accepted anywhere)

 

[IlDestriero]

You can write it up and submit it. You may have more success if you get a senior physician in the relevant field on it as well. If all else fails, you can publish it in an open access journal as long as your check clears.

 

[Goro]

You can write it up and submit it. You may have more success if you get a senior physician in the relevant field on it as well. If all else fails, you can publish it in an open access journal as long as your check clears.

But make sure the Open Access Journal is not a predatory Journal. Your schools Librarians can tell you which is which.

 

[RJ McReady]

My advice, as stated by the others, would be to get a second author to co write the paper with you. Of course you should disclose to your co-author that you are the actual patient being discussed. That way you can still be the first author and there will not be any perceived impropriety because you are the patient. By the way, in your disclosures, you do not have to let them know that you are the patient about which the case report is being written. All you need to let them know is that the patient (you, in this case) has given consent for publication.

 

[bbentertainment]

You can write it up and submit it. You may have more success if you get a senior physician in the relevant field on it as well. If all else fails, you can publish it in an open access journal as long as your check clears.

Thanks for the advice.
Follow-up question: I am looking for possible journals to submit to. I know many are pubmed indexed, many are also not. Many also have extremely heftier prices than some other journals. If I were to submit and get accepted into a journal that was NOT pubmed indexed for example, is this frowned upon by program directors reviewing my application?

I know case reports are very low and not highly regarded in terms of research, but would a PD know or even care to see if the journal I submitted to was pubmed indexed or not?

 

[RJ McReady]

I have published a case report in a pubmed indexed journal...
As you said, a case report is probably the easiest type of manuscript to get published. But, a pub is a pub.
I really doubt most PD’s will care which journal it’s published in. There are plenty of journals that are pubmed indexed that accept case reports. I’m sure you can find one of them to submit to.

 

[Tenk]

I mean it’s fine but if you include it on your CV and it’s brought up during residency interviews I probably wouldn’t mention that it’s about you because that’s awkward af for the interviewer.

 

[Goro]

Thanks for the advice.
Follow-up question: I am looking for possible journals to submit to. I know many are pubmed indexed, many are also not. Many also have extremely heftier prices than some other journals. If I were to submit and get accepted into a journal that was NOT pubmed indexed for example, is this frowned upon by program directors reviewing my application?

I have read in these fora that a non-Pubmed indexed journal is a minus on your app. People know fully well that the vanity journals exist to bulk up CVs.

Thus, get the MS into a real journal.

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Can you write one?

Yes.

Is it worth the time and effort?

Not really.

 

[Lawpy]

yeah i agree its better to get a mentor to be the second author and help guide the process