Doctoralia Editorial Policy
& Blog Guidelines

Our Foundation

Editorial Standards & Our Commitment to Accuracy

Doctoralia is an independent health information platform connecting patients with 330,000+ verified medical specialists across 50+ countries. Every piece of content published on Doctoralia — whether from our in-house editorial team or from guest contributors — is held to the same rigorous standards of accuracy, integrity, and transparency.

We follow Google's E-E-A-T framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) and take seriously our responsibility as a YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) health publisher. Health content that misleads readers can cause real harm, and we treat that responsibility with the utmost seriousness.

Core Editorial Principles

• Accuracy First: All health claims must be supported by peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines, or statements from recognized medical authorities (WHO, CDC, NHS, Mayo Clinic, etc.).
• Independence: Editorial decisions are never influenced by advertising, sponsorships, or commercial relationships. All sponsored content is clearly labeled.
• Transparency: Every article displays the author's name, credentials, publication date, and medical review date where applicable.
• Up-to-Date Information: Content is reviewed and updated regularly, especially when new clinical evidence or guidelines emerge.
• Reader-Centered: Content is written for patients and caregivers — not for SEO manipulation or commercial agendas.
• Medical Supervision: Health content covering symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, or medications is reviewed by a licensed medical professional before publication.

Our Editorial Team

The Doctoralia editorial team consists of qualified health writers, editors, and medical reviewers. Articles that cover clinical topics — including symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, medications, or health conditions — are reviewed by licensed physicians, nurses, or specialists before publication. The reviewing professional's name, title, and specialty are displayed on the article.

Our team conducts credential verification for all medical reviewers and contributing healthcare professionals. We do not publish unverified health claims from anonymous sources.

Guest Contributors

Write for Doctoralia Blog — Information & Submission Guidelines

Doctoralia welcomes guest contributions from qualified health professionals, medical writers, researchers, patient advocates, and wellness experts who have genuine knowledge to share. We believe in amplifying evidence-based voices that help patients navigate the healthcare system with confidence.

If you have expertise in medicine, public health, mental health, nutrition, fitness, patient experience, or healthcare technology, we would love to hear from you.

Who We Accept Articles From

• Licensed Medical Professionals: Physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and other credentialed clinicians.
• Medical & Health Writers: Experienced journalists and writers with a verifiable track record in health and medical content.
• Researchers & Academics: Scientists and academics with published work in peer-reviewed journals relevant to the article topic.
• Registered Dietitians & Nutritionists: For articles on diet, food, and nutritional health.
• Mental Health Professionals: Therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists writing on mental wellness topics.
• Certified Fitness & Wellness Experts: Certified trainers and wellness coaches with documented qualifications.
• Patient Advocates: Individuals with lived experience who wish to share their story in a responsible, informative way.

Topics We Accept

Topics We Do Not Accept

• Promotional or advertorial content disguised as editorial articles
• Unverified health claims, pseudoscience, or content that contradicts established medical consensus
• Articles promoting specific pharmaceutical products, supplements, or medical devices commercially
• Content promoting anti-vaccine, anti-medicine, or harmful alternative medicine practices
• Articles already published on another website (duplicate or recycled content)
• Content on gambling, adult material, illegal drugs, or non-health topics
• Articles with aggressive self-promotional links or designed primarily to build backlinks
• Fully AI-generated content submitted without human expert review, editing, or original insight

Step-by-Step

How to Submit Your Article to Doctoralia

We use a structured submission and editorial review process to maintain content quality. Please follow these steps carefully — incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

Writing Standards

Content & Writing Guidelines for Contributors

All content published on Doctoralia must meet the following standards. These guidelines align with Google's Helpful Content guidelines, the E-E-A-T framework, and YMYL health content best practices.

Word Count & Length Requirements

Structure & Formatting Requirements

• Use a clear H1 title, organized H2 section headings, and H3 subheadings where appropriate. Never skip heading levels.
• Include a clear introduction (what the article covers and why it matters), a well-organized body, and a conclusion with a key takeaway or call to action.
• Use bullet points and numbered lists to break down complex information, steps, or symptoms.
• Keep paragraphs short — 3–5 sentences maximum. Use plain, accessible language. Aim for a Flesch-Kincaid reading level appropriate for a general adult audience.
• Avoid excessive professional jargon. When medical terms are necessary, define them in plain language upon first use.
• Include a "When to See a Doctor" section for articles covering symptoms or health conditions — this is mandatory for clinical content.
• Include a references section at the end of the article listing all sources cited, with links to the original peer-reviewed studies, government health agencies, or accredited medical institutions.

Health Information & Medical Claims Standards

Doctoralia is a YMYL health platform. Any article that could affect a reader's health decisions must meet elevated accuracy standards. The following apply to all health and medical content:

• All statistics, prevalence figures, and clinical facts must be cited from peer-reviewed journals (PubMed, Cochrane, NEJM, Lancet, JAMA) or recognized health authorities (WHO, CDC, NHS, Mayo Clinic, NIH).
• Use current sources — cite studies published within the last 5 years where possible. Older foundational studies may be cited when no more recent research exists.
• Do not make diagnostic claims — content should explain conditions and symptoms, not tell readers what they have. Always direct readers to seek professional medical advice.
• Do not recommend specific dosages, prescriptions, or self-treatment plans. Articles may describe general treatment approaches but must always advise consultation with a physician.
• Health conditions, symptoms, disease classifications, and treatment categories must align with ICD (International Classification of Diseases) or DSM standards where applicable.
• Acknowledge scientific uncertainty when it exists. Use appropriate hedging language ("research suggests," "evidence indicates") rather than absolute claims.

Language, Tone & Inclusivity

• Write in clear, compassionate, patient-centered English. Address readers as intelligent adults who deserve accurate information.
• Use inclusive language. Avoid stigmatizing language around mental health, addiction, obesity, or disability.
• Avoid fear-based or alarmist language that may cause unnecessary anxiety in readers.
• Use gender-inclusive language where relevant, particularly in women's and men's health content.
• All articles must be written in correct, professional English. Poor grammar and spelling will result in rejection or significant revision before publication.

AI & Content Integrity

AI Content Policy & Originality Requirements

Doctoralia has a strict policy on AI-generated content. As a trusted health information platform, we hold every article to standards of authenticity, expert authorship, and original insight that AI alone cannot provide — especially on medical topics where misinformation can cause serious harm.

AI Score Requirements

Doctoralia requires that all submitted articles meet the following AI content thresholds:

Acceptable Use of AI Assistance

We understand that AI tools may assist in the writing process. The following uses of AI assistance are acceptable, provided the final article is substantively human-written and expert-reviewed:

• Using AI tools to assist with grammar checking, spell checking, or light editing of human-written content
• Using AI to help structure or outline an article — provided the actual content is written by a human expert
• Using AI to suggest keywords or headline variations — with final decisions made by the human author

Plagiarism Policy

All submitted content is checked for plagiarism using Copyscape Premium before acceptance. We have a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Any submission found to contain copied content — including paraphrased content from another source without citation — will be permanently rejected, and the contributor may be banned from future submissions.

Visual Content

Image Policy — Ownership & Copyright Requirements

Doctoralia takes image copyright very seriously. All visual content published on our platform must comply with copyright law and our image standards. We do not publish images without verified licensing, and we actively monitor for copyright infringement.

Accepted Image Sources

• Your own original photographs: Images you personally took or created. You must confirm you hold full rights to the image and that it contains no identifiable individuals without documented consent.
• Licensed stock photography: Images from Unsplash, Pexels (free license), Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, or Getty Images — with the correct license for editorial use. Provide the image license details and original source URL.
• Creative Commons images: Images with a CC0 or CC BY license — with proper attribution provided where the license requires it.
• Official medical diagrams and infographics: From government agencies or institutions (NIH, WHO, CDC) that have granted permission for public use.

Image Quality & Technical Requirements

• Minimum resolution: 1200 x 628 pixels for featured images. In-article images: minimum 800 x 533 pixels.
• Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, or WebP. GIFs accepted only for medically relevant animations.
• All images must include a descriptive alt text that describes the image content for accessibility and SEO purposes.
• Images must not depict graphic medical procedures, nudity, or distressing imagery without a content warning and editorial justification.
• Images of identifiable individuals require documented written consent from those individuals.

Links & SEO Compliance

Linking Policy — Natural Links & Google Compliance

Doctoralia's linking policy is fully compliant with Google's Webmaster Guidelines on link schemes. We do not participate in link schemes, paid link networks, or manipulative link-building practices, and we expect all contributors to adhere to the same standards.

External Links — What We Allow

• Editorial citations only: Links to peer-reviewed journals, government health agencies, accredited medical institutions, or recognized health authorities that are directly relevant to the content.
• Natural, contextual placement: All links must flow naturally within the content and serve the reader's understanding. Links should never appear forced or out of context.
• Maximum 2 author bio links: Contributors may include up to 2 links in their author bio — to their professional website and/or LinkedIn profile. These links will be evaluated for relevance.

External Links — What We Reject

• Links that are clearly included for SEO benefit rather than editorial value
• Links to commercial products, services, affiliate offers, or e-commerce pages without prior editorial approval
• Links to low-quality, spammy, or medically inaccurate websites
• More than 3 external links to the same domain within a single article
• Exact-match anchor text links that appear manipulative or keyword-stuffed

Quality Assurance

Editorial Review Process & Medical Verification

Every article published on Doctoralia — including guest contributions — passes through a multi-stage review process before publication. This process ensures accuracy, safety, and compliance with our editorial standards.

Content Update Policy

Health information evolves. Doctoralia is committed to keeping published content accurate and current. Our editorial team conducts scheduled reviews of published articles and updates content when:

• New clinical research or evidence changes the understanding of a topic
• Medical guidelines are updated by relevant authorities (WHO, CDC, NHS, etc.)
• Drug approvals, recalls, or major safety updates affect treatment information
• A reader or medical professional submits a credible correction or update request

Updated articles display the "Last Reviewed" date alongside the original publication date. Significant revisions to clinical content will be re-reviewed by a medical professional before republication.

Corrections Policy

If you believe any content on Doctoralia contains a factual error, please contact our editorial team at doctoraliaa@gmail.com with the subject line "Content Correction." Include the article URL, the specific claim you believe is inaccurate, and the supporting evidence or source for your correction. We review all correction requests within 5 business days.

Legal & Health Disclaimer

Medical Disclaimer

Our Offices

Doctoralia Management Offices

Doctoralia's editorial and management operations are based across two offices serving Latin America and the world.

For editorial and submission enquiries: doctoraliaa@gmail.com