Comments on: Professional Scolds of Medicine http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html Ramblings of an Emergency Physician in Texas Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:40:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark L Plaster MD http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-7139 Mark L Plaster MD Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:30:10 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-7139 I have written, and now blogged, about doctors and patients for many years (see Nightshift at the above web site). I made the mistake of allowing a doctor's identity to be recognizable once. Thankfully, he didn't read the publication. But many of the nurses in the ED did. I learned an important lesson. Now my stories are "inspired by real events" i.e. fiction. But everyone knows that they reflect real people. Identities are protected and I still get the point across. I have written, and now blogged, about doctors and patients for many years (see Nightshift at the above web site). I made the mistake of allowing a doctor’s identity to be recognizable once. Thankfully, he didn’t read the publication. But many of the nurses in the ED did. I learned an important lesson. Now my stories are “inspired by real events” i.e. fiction. But everyone knows that they reflect real people. Identities are protected and I still get the point across.

]]> By: intueri: to contemplate http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6912 intueri: to contemplate Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:03:16 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6912 [...] GruntDoc recently wrote I and every other medical blogger don’t write about 99% of our interactions, and it’s because they’re either not noteworthy, or too noteworthy (not able to anonymize) or we just forget. Frankly, most of what we do isn’t that interesting, or notable, like our patients. [...] [...] GruntDoc recently wrote I and every other medical blogger don’t write about 99% of our interactions, and it’s because they’re either not noteworthy, or too noteworthy (not able to anonymize) or we just forget. Frankly, most of what we do isn’t that interesting, or notable, like our patients. [...]

]]> By: Bright and shiny thinking » Blog Archive » Oh dear http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6672 Bright and shiny thinking » Blog Archive » Oh dear Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:55:34 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6672 [...] to remind all of their duty of confidentiality to the patient. It may be that blogs are too public. Gruntdoc disagrees: his point about patients melding into each other and being anonymized is much more difficult when [...] [...] to remind all of their duty of confidentiality to the patient. It may be that blogs are too public. Gruntdoc disagrees: his point about patients melding into each other and being anonymized is much more difficult when [...]

]]> By: The House Whisperer http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6669 The House Whisperer Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:18:39 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6669 By the way, I own the above comment--it is my experience only and not to be commented upon or shared. By the way, I own the above comment–it is my experience only and not to be commented upon or shared.

]]> By: The House Whisperer http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6667 The House Whisperer Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:08:42 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6667 My ED has some informed consent in the "consent to treat" form that specifically states that EKGs, X-rays, and other data derived from their visit may be used for educational purposes, lectures, seminars, and research. I don't think there's anything in there about blogging, though I think it could reasonably fall under the category of education. We have a separate form for consent for video and photography. The wording is vague, but it does say that the video/photo could have multiple venues and uses. My ED has some informed consent in the “consent to treat” form that specifically states that EKGs, X-rays, and other data derived from their visit may be used for educational purposes, lectures, seminars, and research. I don’t think there’s anything in there about blogging, though I think it could reasonably fall under the category of education. We have a separate form for consent for video and photography. The wording is vague, but it does say that the video/photo could have multiple venues and uses.

]]> By: Ad Libitum http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6666 Ad Libitum Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:22:32 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6666 Take a look at this post, titled 'Steambath Boil': http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html It's a very interesting post, and one that is very respectful of the patient. But I'm not sure how much of the patient's medical information is 'fictionalized' and unrecognizable. Also, we cannot assume that the patient (especially if the one in the photograph) will be OK with his medical information being on the internet. Take a look at this post, titled ‘Steambath Boil’:

http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

It’s a very interesting post, and one that is very respectful of the patient. But I’m not sure how much of the patient’s medical information is ‘fictionalized’ and unrecognizable. Also, we cannot assume that the patient (especially if the one in the photograph) will be OK with his medical information being on the internet.

]]> By: Greg P http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6663 Greg P Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:07:34 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6663 A further note. If openness and honesty in blogging is so important, why the secrecy about who LMF is? "A neonatologist." "Male" Location:"United States" -- at least he was more specific than "Planet Earth" or "Milky Way" A further note. If openness and honesty in blogging is so important, why the secrecy about who LMF is? “A neonatologist.” “Male” Location:”United States” — at least he was more specific than “Planet Earth” or “Milky Way”

]]> By: Greg P http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6661 Greg P Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:58:17 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6661 This ownership of our lives is absurd. It's an extension of the mindset that some celebrities that every word that comes out of their mouths is copyrighted and may not be used without their permission. Imagine all of us wearing a button that says "Do not quote me without permission." I think we would have to generally look at blogging of the sensible kind as memoir or in some cases truth-based fiction. It might also be considered a public service to show how some people come across to their doctor, or what their doctor is thinking while they interact. The reality is, for every doctor blogging about something or other there are thousands who are thinking similar thoughts and perhaps acting on them. A very basic rule of blogging sense would be to first of all presume that anyone reading your blog can figure out who you are, and if you blog about an interaction with patients or other professionals, they may happen across your note. If you are comfortable with the possible consequences of that happening, blog on. This ownership of our lives is absurd. It’s an extension of the mindset that some celebrities that every word that comes out of their mouths is copyrighted and may not be used without their permission.

Imagine all of us wearing a button that says “Do not quote me without permission.”

I think we would have to generally look at blogging of the sensible kind as memoir or in some cases truth-based fiction. It might also be considered a public service to show how some people come across to their doctor, or what their doctor is thinking while they interact. The reality is, for every doctor blogging about something or other there are thousands who are thinking similar thoughts and perhaps acting on them.

A very basic rule of blogging sense would be to first of all presume that anyone reading your blog can figure out who you are, and if you blog about an interaction with patients or other professionals, they may happen across your note. If you are comfortable with the possible consequences of that happening, blog on.

]]> By: LMF (ad libitum) http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html/comment-page-1#comment-6659 LMF (ad libitum) Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:38:00 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2007/07/professional-scolds-of-medicine.html#comment-6659 Gruntdoc, I'm glad to have stimulated a discussion on this topic. I don't think my conclusions are different from yours (i.e. it's not unethical to blog provided due precautions are taken). The two articles I referenced are quite thought-provoking, and the full text is available by clicking on the links. I'd encourage you to read them. LMF (ad libitum) Gruntdoc, I’m glad to have stimulated a discussion on this topic. I don’t think my conclusions are different from yours (i.e. it’s not unethical to blog provided due precautions are taken). The two articles I referenced are quite thought-provoking, and the full text is available by clicking on the links. I’d encourage you to read them. LMF (ad libitum)

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