MedicalContraindication

MedicalContraindication is a direct MedicalEntity subtype for the conditions or factors that make a particular therapy inadvisable. It has no unique properties; the type itself is the signal, and the inherited MedicalEntity properties (code, guideline, relevantSpecialty, recognizingAuthority) carry the structured detail.

It attaches to a therapy via the contraindication property on Drug, MedicalTherapy, MedicalProcedure, and MedicalDevice.

Full example of schema.org/MedicalContraindication json-ld markup

The markup is verified as valid with Rich Results Test from Google.

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schema.org/MedicalContraindication

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Drug",
  "name": "XooStat-12",
  "nonProprietaryName": "xoostatibe",
  "contraindication": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalContraindication",
      "name": "Active hepatic disease (absolute)",
      "description": "XooStat-12 is contraindicated in patients with active liver disease, including unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases.",
      "relevantSpecialty": "https://schema.org/Cardiovascular",
      "code": { "@type": "MedicalCode", "codeValue": "K70-K77", "codingSystem": "ICD-10" }
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalContraindication",
      "name": "Pregnancy and lactation (absolute)",
      "description": "Contraindicated in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.",
      "relevantSpecialty": "https://schema.org/Obstetric"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalContraindication",
      "name": "Concurrent strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (relative)",
      "description": "Use with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. clarithromycin, itraconazole) increases myopathy risk; consider dose reduction or alternative therapy."
    }
  ]
}
</script>

Absolute vs relative

Schema.org does not distinguish absolute from relative contraindications structurally; encode the distinction in name and description. The standard pattern is name = "Severe hepatic impairment (absolute)" or "Concurrent CYP3A4 strong inhibitor (relative)" so consumers can read the strength of the contraindication directly.

Why publish contraindications

AI healthcare assistants reading drug-information pages parse contraindication blocks aggressively. A drug page with structured MedicalContraindication entries shows up in safety-aware drug interaction surfaces; a page with prose-only contraindications often does not. Publishing the structured entries is one of the highest-leverage moves for a pharma or drug-information site.

Minimal valid version

The smallest markup that still produces a valid MedicalContraindication entity. Use it as the floor. Reach for the advanced example above when you want search engines and AI agents to understand more about your content.

schema.org/MedicalContraindication (minimal)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MedicalContraindication",
  "name": "Active hepatic disease (absolute)",
  "description": "Contraindicated in patients with active liver disease."
}
</script>

Google rich results this unlocks

Markup matching this example makes your page eligible for the following Google Search rich results. The primary target drives the required / recommended property classification in the advanced code block above.

No dedicated rich result (consumed by drug-interaction graphs and AI healthcare assistants)
Google docs

Common MedicalContraindication mistakes

Mistakes that pass validation but silently fail to earn rich results or mislead consumers walking the graph. Avoid these and your markup will be ahead of most sites in the wild.

01
Bare name with no description
Wrong
```
MedicalContraindication with name only
```
Right
```
Always include description; the safety detail is the value
```
The contraindication name is a label; the description is the actionable safety information consumers and clinicians read.
02
Missing absolute / relative qualifier
Wrong
```
MedicalContraindication entries with no strength signal
```
Right
```
Append "(absolute)" or "(relative)" to name; explain in description
```
Clinically significant difference; AI assistants surface them differently. Encode the distinction in the text since the schema does not have a structural slot.
03
Listing drug-interaction notes as MedicalContraindication
Wrong
```
MedicalContraindication for every dose-adjustment note
```
Right
```
Reserve MedicalContraindication for true contraindications; use Drug.interactingDrug for interactions
```
Contraindications mean 'do not use'; interactions mean 'use carefully'. Conflating them dilutes safety signalling.

Schema properties in this example

MedicalContraindication MedicalEntity Drug name nonProprietaryName contraindication description relevantSpecialty MedicalSpecialty Cardiovascular Obstetric code MedicalCode codeValue codingSystem

Also mentioned in 2 other examples

MedicalContraindication also appears in MedicalDevice, and MedicalTherapy. See the full MedicalContraindication schema page for every reference.

About the example data

The contraindications attached to XooStat-12, the fictional Phase III statin in trial at Dunmore Regional Hospital.

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