Editorial Policy

1. Our editorial principles

• First-person authority: clinicians and patients speak in their own voice. We do not put words in their mouths.
• Consent first: nothing is published without the storyteller’s informed approval of the final version.
• Harm minimization: we weigh public interest against the safety, privacy, and careers of the people who trust us.
• Independence: our content is not pay-to-play. Sponsors or partners never influence editorial decisions.
• Transparency: when we make mistakes, we correct them visibly.

2. How stories are sourced

Most stories come to us directly — through the submission form, interviews we record, or conversations in our community. When we report on trends (staffing, burnout, pay), we say where the information comes from and distinguish personal experience from reported fact.

3. Verification and fact-checking

• We verify that the contributor is who they say they are and works (or worked) in the role they describe.
• Personal experience is published as personal experience — clearly framed, not presented as data.
• Claims about institutions, named events, or numbers are checked where possible, or clearly attributed and hedged where they cannot be.
• We avoid details that could identify patients, colleagues, or workplaces unless identification is essential and consented to.

4. Editing

Editing protects clarity, length, and safety — never meaning. Contributors see and approve the edited version before it goes live. If a contributor and our editors cannot agree, the story does not run.

5. Anonymity and attribution options

• Full name and role.
• First name and role (our default suggestion).
• Fully anonymous — e.g., “An ICU nurse with 8 years of experience.”
• Contributors can change their attribution choice at any time, including after publication, and we will update the story promptly.

6. Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it and note the correction on the story. Significant factual errors are corrected within the body of the piece with a dated correction note. Spelling or clarity fixes do not require a note.

To request a correction, email info@behindthescrub.com with the story link and what you believe is wrong.

7. What we do not publish

• Content that identifies patients or breaches confidentiality obligations.
• Hate speech, harassment, or content targeting individuals or communities.
• Deliberate misinformation about health, treatments, or vaccines.
• Content contributed by someone else without their knowledge or consent.

8. Contact the editors

Story tips, corrections, or concerns: info@behindthescrub.com.