The Ultimate Guide to AMA Citation Style for Medical Professionals

In the high-stakes world of medical and scientific publishing, accuracy is not just a preference—it is a requirement. The American Medical Association (AMA) style (currently in its 11th edition) is the gold standard for citing sources in biomedical literature. unlike the author-date system found in APA style, AMA utilizes a numeric system that prioritizes conciseness and readability.

Whether you are a medical student, a researcher, or a healthcare professional, understanding the nuances of this style is essential for getting your work published. This guide covers complex citation scenarios including patents, government bulletins, and special collections.

The Numeric Citation System

AMA style uses superscript Arabic numerals (e.g., ¹) in the text, which correspond to a numbered reference list at the end of the document. The references are listed in the order they appear in the text, not alphabetically. This allows readers to quickly locate the source of a specific fact without breaking the flow of reading.

Citing Government and Agency Bulletins

Government publications are frequent sources in public health research. According to the AMA Manual of Style, citing a bulletin requires specific attention to the publishing entity if no author is named.

If the bulletin is published by an agency without a specific author, utilize the agency name as the author. For example, a Visa Bulletin would list "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services" as both author and publisher.

How to Cite Patents in AMA

In biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical research, patents are as important as journal articles. Citing them correctly involves identifying the inventor, the assignee (the company or entity that owns the rights), and the patent number.

• Inventor(s): List the name followed by "inventor".
• Assignee: List the company followed by "assignee".
• Title: Do not italicize the patent title.
• Patent Number: crucial for identification (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 7,050,534).

Example: Lang P, inventor; Imaging Therapeutics Inc, assignee. Methods and Devices for Quantitative Analysis of X-Ray Images. U.S. Patent No. 7,050,534. August 20, 2002.

Special Collections and Archival Material

Historical medical research often requires digging into special collections. These citations are unique because they must direct the reader to a physical location—a specific library or archive.

When citing an item like a vintage book or a WWI poster found in a special collection, you must include the Archival Number and the Location (Library, City, Country).

For more general guidelines on formatting research papers, you might consult Purdue OWL's AMA Guide. However, for specific automated generation, our Cite Master Search tool can provide instant templates.