Comments on: The Reality of Open Source Health Advice http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html medicine. health. (social) media. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John Grohol, PsyD http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-489 John Grohol, PsyD Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:08:14 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-489 <p>I've seen doctors and other healthcare professionals giving patient-specific advice for 20+ years online. I know of zero instances where a professional has been sued for the advice they've given in such cases.</p> <p>So while it is indeed an interesting hypothetical situation, the data suggest it is not something to be overly concerned about -- especially for quick, general answers that can be just as readily Googled.<br /> </p> I've seen doctors and other healthcare professionals giving patient-specific advice for 20+ years online. I know of zero instances where a professional has been sued for the advice they've given in such cases.

So while it is indeed an interesting hypothetical situation, the data suggest it is not something to be overly concerned about — especially for quick, general answers that can be just as readily Googled.

]]> By: DrV http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-488 DrV Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:09:33 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-488 <p>Received word last night that the toothpick in question is free.</p> Received word last night that the toothpick in question is free.

]]> By: DrV http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-487 DrV Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:44:03 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-487 <p>Kathy - Innocent responses shouldn't represent a relationship. And it's unlikely that a jury would see it that way. Plaintiff attys, however, are quite liberal as far as holding folks accountable ... even when they're only peripherally involved. </p> Kathy – Innocent responses shouldn't represent a relationship. And it's unlikely that a jury would see it that way. Plaintiff attys, however, are quite liberal as far as holding folks accountable … even when they're only peripherally involved.

]]> By: twitter.com/mkmackey http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-486 twitter.com/mkmackey Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:21:57 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-486 <p>Disturbing to me that so called "innocent" casual medical responses could ultimately do harm and most disturbing is that the community most able to give medical help and opinions in an emergency is not even consulted.</p> Disturbing to me that so called "innocent" casual medical responses could ultimately do harm and most disturbing is that the community most able to give medical help and opinions in an emergency is not even consulted.

]]> By: DrV http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-485 DrV Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:05:45 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-485 <p>Thanks for your response, Susannah. And all's well that ends well. This issue of liability isn't talked about much but I think it'll see the light of day when more healthcare professionals make their way to the social media space. </p> <p>It's actually really sad that felt reticent about telling you my two cents worth on intestinal foreign bodies.</p> <p>I might suggest our legal system invoke some sort of diplomatic immunity for professionals offering a hand! </p> Thanks for your response, Susannah. And all's well that ends well. This issue of liability isn't talked about much but I think it'll see the light of day when more healthcare professionals make their way to the social media space.

It's actually really sad that felt reticent about telling you my two cents worth on intestinal foreign bodies.

I might suggest our legal system invoke some sort of diplomatic immunity for professionals offering a hand!

]]> By: Susannah Fox http://33charts.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-484 Susannah Fox Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:54:24 +0000 http://02d880f.netsolhost.com/2009/11/the-reality-of-open-source-health-advice.html#comment-484 <p>I'll confess it: I posted about the toothpick. </p> <p>A friend called me from the road, a little panicked, knowing that I was near a computer and could quickly search for "what to do when you have swallowed a plastic toothpick." I did the search and then left voicemails for my two best friends, who happen to be MDs (one is an internist, the other a hepatologist). </p> <p>Then I sat staring at my computer screen at these links:</p> <p><a href="http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1a5r8-accidently-swallowed-plastic" rel="nofollow">http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1a5r8-accidently-swallowed-plastic</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.general-health-care.com/generalhealthcare/a211175.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.general-health-care.com/generalhealthcare/a211175.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112167552/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0" rel="nofollow">http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112167552/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0</a></p> <p><a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/776566-overview" rel="nofollow">http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/776566-overview</a></p> <p>I hesitated to post to Twitter for many of the same reasons why DrV hesitated to answer: what will it mean when I get back the replies? But my friend was panicked and I wanted to help, so I posted. The replies I got lined up with what I saw in the search results AND what I got from my hepatologist friend: if there is no pain, let nature take its course since there is a very good chance the toothpick will pass on its own.</p> <p>Hopefully no harm, no foul in the social media space. So far no harm (but, sorry about this) lots of foul in my friend's case.</p> I'll confess it: I posted about the toothpick.

A friend called me from the road, a little panicked, knowing that I was near a computer and could quickly search for "what to do when you have swallowed a plastic toothpick." I did the search and then left voicemails for my two best friends, who happen to be MDs (one is an internist, the other a hepatologist).

Then I sat staring at my computer screen at these links:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1a5r8-accidently-swallowed-plastic

http://www.general-health-care.com/generalhealthcare/a211175.html

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112167552/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/776566-overview

I hesitated to post to Twitter for many of the same reasons why DrV hesitated to answer: what will it mean when I get back the replies? But my friend was panicked and I wanted to help, so I posted. The replies I got lined up with what I saw in the search results AND what I got from my hepatologist friend: if there is no pain, let nature take its course since there is a very good chance the toothpick will pass on its own.

Hopefully no harm, no foul in the social media space. So far no harm (but, sorry about this) lots of foul in my friend's case.

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