15. What if I don't have consent for publication from my patient?

Journal of Medical Case Reports requires that patients give informed, written consent for publication of each case report. Where the patient is a minor, or otherwise unable to give consent, the next of kin should be asked to provide consent. It is almost always impossible to publish a case report about a living patient without their consent for publication.

Authors should download the following form, and ensure that the patient understands it before signing. More information on Journal of Medical Case Reports's policy on consent for publication can be found in our instructions for authors. Case reports without appropriate consent will be rejected prior to peer review.

If you would like to submit to Journal of Medical Case Reports, but the patient has died and you are unable to trace their family, please email the editorial office jmcreditorial@biomedcentral.com with the abstract of your case and an explanation of what steps you have taken to trace the patient's family.