Medscape Commenting Guide

Why are Medscape comments and discussion boards moderated?

Medscape's commenting platform provides a forum for physicians and healthcare professionals to share their thoughts on those Medscape articles for which the platform is enabled. We welcome your comments on these articles -both supportive and critical- and we value the communication that ensues. We do, however, require that you be considerate of your fellow Medscape users and refrain from posting comments that contain profanity, harassment, advertisements or any other content that is prohibited by the Medscape Terms of Use. We also discourage excessively long and repetitive comments. The Medscape moderators review comments to ensure that they are consistent with this Guide and the Medscape Terms of Use. Personal attacks on our staff, authors and other commenters will be rejected.

I don't see my comment. When will it post?

Medscape receives a large volume of reader comments daily from all over the world. It is our goal to post the vast majority of these comments and to do so within a reasonable timeframe. If your comment does not post, it probably has violated the Medscape Terms of Use.

Does Medscape edit comments?

No, Medscape does not edit comments. Comments are either approved or rejected as submitted.

Should I declare any conflicts of interest?

I have listed affiliations with, or involvement in, any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers' bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed on this site. If I have not declared any such affiliations or involvements, I certify that I have no conflict of interests.

Why don't I see an option to comment on some articles?

Medscape may choose to exclude certain articles from the Medscape commenting platform due to a variety of factors, including the articles' posting date, source and/or topic.

How do I notify you of an inappropriate post?

Simply click Flag below the comment that you find inappropriate, and, if you wish, you may choose a reason for flagging the comment. The comment will then be reviewed by a Medscape moderator, and if it is found to be inappropriate, it will be removed.

How do I edit my comment?

After submitting a comment on an article, you have 5 minutes to edit your comment. An Edit link will appear at the end of your post. Once the 5 minutes have expired, you will no longer have the opportunity to make changes.

Please see our Terms of Use for further information about the Medscape article commenting platform.