Cardiovascular Pathology

View Points Scientific writing: Need of the day The reasons for scientific writing range from noble to base reasons. Some authors write for pleasure derived from the creative activity of writing and from sharing one’s intellectual pursuits. For many authors, writing is a channel for expressing the joy of scientific discovery. At the bottom of the list, writing may be considered by some to be a chore where getting published is a ‘necessary evil ’ in order to fulfill certain specific minimum requirements, e.g. for getting a job or a promotion. Well trained physicians are to be judged not by their knowledge or their outlook upon present problems, but by their ability to deal with new ones. Many physicians hesitate to try their hand at research and writing because they feel that they are not scientists or authors. Actually, the scientific techniques in writing and research can be learned and used successfully like other manual skills. This ability will grow with the application and the versatility acquired with experience. A published article is indisputable evidence of research that has been performed, completed, and accepted by peers. A publication is also an indicator of achievement of a certain academic standard. Besides communication of a finalized piece of research, the written work is the basis for further opinions, views and critiques from fellow professionals and academics separated by time and distance. Most importantly, it represents the only permanent record of scientific work that has been completed. For pathologists, the benefits of scientific writing can be grouped into the following headings