Editorial Policy & Content Standards

Our commitment to providing accurate, evidence-based oncology information through rigorous medical review and editorial excellence.

Our Editorial Mission

Oncol.net is dedicated to providing medically accurate, current, and accessible oncology information to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. We adhere to the highest standards of medical journalism and follow Google's E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines for health content.

Core Principles

  • Accuracy: All content is fact-checked and medically reviewed
  • Transparency: Clear attribution and source citations
  • Independence: Editorial decisions free from commercial influence
  • Timeliness: Regular updates to reflect current medical knowledge
  • Accessibility: Clear language without sacrificing accuracy

Content Creation Process

Every piece of content on Oncol.net undergoes a rigorous multi-step process:

Topic Selection & Research

Topics are chosen based on:

  • Patient information needs
  • Medical importance and relevance
  • Current treatment guidelines
  • Emerging research findings

Content Development

Written by qualified medical writers who:

  • Hold relevant medical or scientific degrees
  • Have expertise in oncology communication
  • Follow evidence-based guidelines
  • Use approved medical terminology

Medical Review

Reviewed by board-certified oncologists who:

  • Verify medical accuracy
  • Check treatment recommendations
  • Ensure guideline compliance
  • Validate drug information

Editorial Review

Editors ensure:

  • Clarity and readability
  • Consistent style and formatting
  • Proper source attribution
  • Appropriate disclaimers

Fact-Checking

Verification of:

  • Statistics and data
  • Drug names and dosages
  • Clinical trial information
  • Reference accuracy

Publication & Monitoring

After publication:

  • Content dated and attributed
  • Regular review schedule set
  • User feedback monitored
  • Updates tracked and documented

Medical Review Standards

Medical Reviewer Qualifications

All medical reviewers must meet the following criteria:

Board certification in oncology or related specialty
Active medical license in good standing
Current clinical practice or research
Minimum 5 years post-fellowship experience
No significant conflicts of interest
Commitment to evidence-based medicine

Review Criteria

Medical reviewers evaluate content for:

  • Clinical Accuracy: Alignment with current medical knowledge
  • Guideline Compliance: Consistency with NCCN, ASCO, ESMO guidelines
  • Safety: Appropriate warnings and contraindications
  • Balance: Fair presentation of treatment options
  • Completeness: Comprehensive coverage of topic

Content Standards

Medical Accuracy

  • Evidence-based information only
  • Current treatment guidelines
  • FDA-approved indications
  • Peer-reviewed sources
  • Clear uncertainty disclosure

Language & Tone

  • Clear, accessible language
  • Medical terms defined
  • Empathetic tone
  • No sensationalism
  • Cultural sensitivity

Ethical Standards

  • Patient privacy respected
  • No false hope or promises
  • Balanced risk/benefit info
  • Clear disclaimers
  • No promotion of unproven treatments

Attribution

  • Author credentials listed
  • Reviewer identification
  • Publication date visible
  • Last review date shown
  • Source citations provided

Source Requirements

Acceptable Sources

Primary Sources

  • Peer-reviewed medical journals
  • Clinical trial databases (ClinicalTrials.gov)
  • FDA announcements and approvals
  • Medical conference proceedings

Guidelines & Standards

  • NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • ASCO Guidelines and Recommendations
  • ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • NCI Treatment Summaries
  • WHO Classifications

Reference Resources

  • UpToDate
  • Prescribing information (package inserts)
  • Medical textbooks (current editions)
  • Cochrane Reviews

Note: We do not use press releases, manufacturer marketing materials, or non-peer-reviewed sources as primary references for medical information.

Update Frequency

Content Review Schedule

Content Type Review Frequency Trigger for Immediate Update
Drug Information Every 3 months FDA alerts, new indications
Treatment Guidelines Every 6 months Guideline updates
Cancer Type Pages Annual Major research findings
Side Effects Every 6 months New management strategies
Clinical Trials Quarterly Trial results published
Statistics Annual New data releases

Transparency & Disclosure

What We Disclose

  • Author names and credentials
  • Medical reviewer identities
  • Publication and review dates
  • Funding sources (independent)
  • Any potential conflicts of interest
  • Content update history
  • Source citations

Conflict of Interest Policy

All contributors must disclose:

  • Financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies
  • Research funding sources
  • Speaking engagements or consultancies
  • Stock ownership in healthcare companies
  • Patents or intellectual property

Individuals with significant conflicts are excluded from reviewing content related to those interests.

Corrections & Updates

How We Handle Corrections

  1. Error Identification: Errors identified through review, user feedback, or monitoring
  2. Verification: Medical team verifies the error and determines correction
  3. Correction: Content updated immediately if patient safety involved
  4. Documentation: Correction noted with date and description
  5. Notification: Major corrections announced if significant impact

Types of Updates

  • Minor Updates: Typos, formatting, clarifications - noted in update log
  • Content Updates: New information, guideline changes - dated and described
  • Major Revisions: Significant changes - version history maintained
  • Corrections: Factual errors - prominently noted with explanation

User Feedback

We value user feedback to improve our content quality and accuracy. Users can:

  • Report potential errors or outdated information
  • Suggest topics for coverage
  • Request clarifications
  • Provide feedback on content usefulness

Contact Our Editorial Team

For editorial matters, corrections, or content suggestions:

Email: editorial@oncol.net

We review all feedback and respond within 5 business days.

Advertising & Sponsorship

Oncol.net maintains editorial independence:

  • We do not accept pharmaceutical advertising
  • Content decisions are never influenced by commercial interests
  • No sponsored content or paid placements
  • Educational grants, if any, do not influence editorial content
  • Clear separation between any future advertising and editorial content

Privacy & Data Protection

Our editorial process respects user and patient privacy:

  • No use of identifiable patient information without consent
  • Case studies are de-identified or composite
  • User data never influences editorial decisions
  • Compliance with HIPAA and privacy regulations

See our full Privacy Policy for details.

Compliance & Accreditation

Oncol.net adheres to:

  • HONcode principles for health websites
  • Google's E-E-A-T guidelines for YMYL content
  • FDA regulations on health information
  • Medical journalism best practices
  • WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards

Disclaimer

This editorial policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect best practices in medical publishing. Last review: January 24, 2026.

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