The “Risky Business” of Web 2.0 Doctor Bloggers

Posted on May 16, 2008 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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A Mashed-Up Opinion

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chiefdem2]

Today, after personally reviewing far too many blogs, and according to www.NPR.org, there are more than120, 000 health care forums on the Internet with opinions ranging from pharmaceuticals, to sexual dysfunction, to acne.

The same goes for commercial doctor blogs that promote lotions, balms and potions, diets and vitamins, minerals, herbs, drinks and elixirs, or various other ingest-ants, digest-ants or pharmaceuticals, etc. Link: www.MyFootShop.com

And, to other doctors, the blogging craze is a new novelty where there are no rules, protocols, standards or precise figures on how many “medical-doctor” or related physician-blogs are “out there.” Unfortunately, too many recount gory ER scenes, or pictorially illustrate horrific medical conditions, or serious and traumatic injuries. www.physicianspractice.com/index/fuseaction/articles.details/articleID/1136.htm

Of course, others simply are medical practice websites, or those that entice patients into more lucrative plastic surgery or concierge medical practices. Some are from self-serving/credible plaintiff-seeking attorneys wishing to assist patients. Link: www.FootLaw.com

Disgruntled Doctors

But not all physician blogs are geared toward practice information, marketing or medical sensationalism. In fact, just the opposite seems to be the case in extremely candid blogs, like “Ranting Docs”, “White Coat Rants,” “Grunt Docs”, “Cancer Doc,” “The Happy Hospitalist,” “Mom MD”, “Cross-Over Health”, “Angry Docs” and “M.D.O.D.,” which bills itself as “Random Thoughts from a Few Cantankerous American Physicians.” Link: www.thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com 

According to some of these, they are more like personal journals, or public diaries, where doctors vent about reimbursement rates, difficult cases, medical mistakes, declining medical prestige and control, and/or what a “bummer” it is to have so many patients die; not pay, or who are indigent, noncompliant, etc.www.CrossOverHealth.wordpress.com

We call these the “disgruntled doctor sites.” Some even talk about their own patients, coding issues, or various doctor-patient shenanigans.

Privacy Issues 

But, according to psychiatrist and blogger Dr. Deborah Peel and others, the problem with blogging about patients is the danger that one will be able to identify themselves – the doctor – or that others who know them will be able to identify them.”  Her affiliation, Patient Privacy Rights, rightly worries that patients might tracked back to the individual, and adversely affect their employment, health insurance or other aspects of life.

And, according to Dr. Charles F. Fenton; III, JD and Dr. Jay S. Grife; Esq., MA, both frequent posters to this Executive-Post blog forum, it is certainly true that if a doctor violates a patient’s privacy there could be legal consequences. Under HIPAA, physicians could face fines or even jail time. In some states, patients can file a civil lawsuit if they believe a doctor has violated their privacy. Still, internet privacy issues are an evolving gray-area that if not wrong, may still be morally and ethically questionable. Link: www.patientprivacyrights.org

Opinions May Vary

Our colleague Robert Wachter MD, author of a blog called “Wachter’s World,” says it’s important for doctors to be able to share cases, as long as they change the facts substantially. On the other hand, the author of “Wachter’s World” and a leading expert on patient safety alternately suggests “You might say we as doctors should never be talking about experiences with our patients online or in books or in articles.”

But, he says that “patients shouldn’t take all the information on blogs at face value. Taken for what they are — unedited opinions, and in some cases entertainment — blogs can give readers some useful insight into the good, the bad and the ugly of the medical profession”. Link: http://www.the-hospitalist.org/blogs

Assessment

Well, fair enough! But, the above caveats are a big “if” according to Gene Schmckler of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc. Link: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

Eugene Schmuckler, PhD is a behavioral psychologist and stress management expert who opines that “doctors unhappy with their current medical career choice, or its modern evolution, should probably consider counseling or even career change guidance, re-education and re-engineering.” It is very inappropriate to vent career frustrations in a public venue. It’s far better for the blog to be private and/or by invitation only; if at all. Link: www.healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/physician-career-development-essay

In My View – Risky Business

I believe that a hybrid mash-up of both views can be wholly appropriate, or grossly inappropriate in some cases. Of course the devil is in the details; linguistics and semantics aside. Nevertheless; what is not addressed in electronic physician “mea-culpas” are the professional liability risks and concerns that are evolving in this quasi-professional, quasi-lay, communication forum.

For example, we have seen medical mistakes, and liability admissions of all sorts, freely and glibly presented. In fact,

“some physicians find that the act of liability blogging as a professional confession that is useful in moving past their malpractice mistakes. And, it is also a useful way to begin a commitment to a better professional life of caring in the future. It helps eliminate the toxic residue and angst of professional liability and guilt. Moreover, as they are unburdened of past acts of omission or commission, doctors should remember to also forgive those who have wronged them. This helps greatly with the process and brings additional peace.”

However, although some may say that this electronic confession is good for the soul, it may not be good for your professional liability carrier, or you, when plaintiff’s attorneys release a legion of IT focused interns, or automated bots, searching online for your self-admissions and scouring for your self-incriminations.

Of course, a direct connection to a specific patient may still not be made and no HIPAA violation is involved. But, a vivid imagination is not need needed to envision this type of blind medical malpractice discovery deposition query even now. www.jbpub.com/detail.cfm?TemplateName=alliedhealth&bc=3342-3&ThisPage=Table%20of%20Contents

Q: “Doctor Smith, I noted all the medical errors admitted on your blog. What other mistakes did you make in the care and treatment of my client?”

And so, the question of plausible deniability, or culpability, is easily raised. 

If you must journalize your thoughts for sanity or stress release; do it in print. And, don’t tell anyone about it so the diary won’t be subpoenaed. Then tear it up and throw it away.

Remember, with risk management, “It is all about credibility.” Don’t trash yours!

These thoughts may be especially important if you covet a medical career as a researcher, editor, educator, medical expert or something other than a working-class or employed physician.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/122

Assessment

Remember, there are all sorts of new fangled risks out-there for the modern medical practitioner to consider; so beware!

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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