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Medical gag orders--the comments keep on coming

Posted: 5/7/2009 9:26:53 AM By Angie | 14 comments


My last post about medical gag orders received a fantastic amount of feedback from readers.

Since the most recent issue of the Angie's List Magazine and the most recent List-en! podcast continue to cover the issue, I expect to see more comments coming in.

We've certainly heard a wide spectrum of feelings on the issue, from doctors, nurses and patients alike.

What about you? Get in on the conversation: Are medical gag orders OK in your book, or do you think they violate your right to free speech?



Comments
Angie's List Staff
Response to Bobert:
Actually, Bobert, Angie's List started in 1995 in Columbus, Ohio, and has been spreading nationwide since. You can read more about it at http://angiehicksbowman.com/
No integrity issues here!
7/10/2009 8:38:44 AM
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Bobert Fleebert
Angie's over all idea is good.. supply people with useful information about the integrity of Doctor's and contractors. Very valuable information.. however it's value is diminished by Angie's own integrity issues.
She's clearly copied the Craig's list title idea, And adding insult to injury, she's put a "tm" by it in an attempt to make it hers. Perhaps coming up with something original would convince those who immediately condemn her for ripping off Craig's idea come in and look around.
7/10/2009 3:10:47 AM
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Sherrill
It seems certainly fair to comment on waiting times, courtesy and respect related to medical care. Even though a patient might not be an authority on medicine, patients are authorities on their experience. I think Angie's List readers and others are also astute at determining whether someone posting their experiences has an unfounded grudge or not. A physician commented that his years of medical school somehow entitle him (and other physicians) to exemption from critique. Plumbers and stonemasons may argue that because I, as a consumer, don't know a thing about those skills, I should also keep silent. Yet I don't see the plumbers and stonemasons saying they need exemption from comments of customers. Patients often feel powerless at the hands of medical authorities. This is one small tool to restore balance to the relationship. The more information, the better.
6/27/2009 1:05:34 PM
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Angie's List Staff
Kevin: Angie's List currently posts alerts on the profiles of medical providers we know are using the gag order forms. This way, members can make an informed decision if they choose to post a report on those providers. While anonymous reviews may protect members from backlash from doctors using the gag order forms, we feel that the anonymity would detract from the integrity of the List. With no way to ensure people were reporting on their own, personal experiences, we'd be susceptible to the same pitfalls anonymous review sites face now: People reporting on themselves or family members, stacking the deck for themselves or against competition, fabricating reports, etc., and we'd be left with no way to ensure our reports are honest and accurate. We certainly hope the gag order trend doesn't increase—or continue at all! Sharing these experiences is an invaluable resource for consumers looking to make an informed decision about receiving medical care.
5/7/2009 1:21:38 PM
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Sandra
I am of the opinion that we should be able to post good or bad about the doctors we have visited. When I was looking for a good surgeon to do my back surgery I was unable to look anything up and then had to go word of mouth. Luckily I had one of the best surgeons in the area who performed my surgery with much success and then when I wanted to post this wonderful doctor so all my friends would have the opportunity to visits this same doctor…again I was unable to find a site to post on.

Sad is how I feel, but I do understand the doctors fears, and feel that patient information should be provided on the site to make it more geared to the honest patient.
5/7/2009 10:14:31 AM
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Myriam
Truthfully, I have not read the entire article. However, I heard about that on the local news. I hope those trying to stop patients from helping other patients, don't get their way! Our health is THE single most important thing we have. If we can read about this or that contractor to fix our home, it only makes more sense to choose someone to fix our bodies. It's ludicrous that someone would oppose this.
5/7/2009 10:14:11 AM
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Catherine
Online consumer reporting websites are a necessity. They keep businesses and individuals informed of potentially fraudulent and hazardous transactions.

But such sites sometimes have a dark side. Disguised as a reliable, honest, and well intentioned source of information, online consumer reporting websites often go unmonitored. What was once a method of consumer advocacy has turned into a weapon of vindictive libel for those with personal vendettas.

For example, the "Rip Off Report" is operated by a convicted felon who, for a price, will remove unsubstantiated negative reports that, in some cases, are made up out of whole cloth by the operator of the site himself. Other times, vengeful competitors post lies and hurtful commentary on such sites.

Here's someone who fought back and created a site to counter the convicted felon's scurrilous postings.

http://www.ezripofflawsuit.com
http://www.terryreeves.com/rip-off-report-dont-be-scammed-by-the-rip-off-rep
ort

Unless you have an iron-clad plan to prove the accusations posted by people who don't happen to like their doctor, I suggest that Angie's List leave the "reporting" to someone else. You may find yourself with a reputation that needs defending. After being the accomplice to a smear campaign by disgruntled patients against men and women who have spent a decade or more in training, physicians especially are not likely to go quietly when libeled by "patients."
5/7/2009 10:13:41 AM
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Debbie
YES!!!! What a great system you've started. Thank You!
5/7/2009 10:10:32 AM
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Linda
This is the sort of thing which made me hold back on commenting on the poor care I received at the hands of a local ophthalmologist.
I was afraid I would be sued. He is careless, casual, and does poor work. I've left his care....but tell the world and face him in court?
I don't think so.
5/7/2009 10:10:05 AM
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J. Johnson, M.D.
Hello, I am a physician who has been practicing for more than 10 years, and I need to get this off my chest. In general, I resent having physicians being listed in your services along with plumbers, handyman, lawn services, and massage therapy. At the risk of sounding snobbish, I did not go to four years of college, sweat medical school entrance examinations, sweat through four years of medical school, five years of residency and three years of fellowship at servitude wages, sleep deprivation and 36 hour days/100 hour per week work hours, miss both my kids' childhood, and deal on a daily basis with the undercurrent threat of malpractice and insurance company regulations, to be placed on an arbitrary list alongside other services. Not to mention that I will be paying back my medical school loans totalling more than $250,000, until I am 62 years old. These are the reasons that physicians have reacted by limiting the ability of patients to write reviews for your website, because we are resentful of your service, and being placed this category. I have not looked to see if I am listed with your service, nor do I intend to. I give excellent care to every patient, every time. I will do my best to limit information given by your website. I know what I have said will make no difference to you, and you may take some of this out of context for some other use. But as I said at the beginning, I needed to get that off my chest.
5/7/2009 10:08:40 AM
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Kevin
I have been an Angie's List customer for many years and I feel it is an invaluable service. I was very disappointed to read the recent report on Patient Gag Orders and it's infringement on free speech, but I was also disappointed to read that Angie's List, while against the practice, is basically helping to enable gag orders by sharing patients' information with Physicians who may have implemented gag orders. I understand with every other merchant why anonymous reviews are not allowed, but with the recent implementation of gag orders and with the practice almost certainly to increase, my suggestion is that Angie's List change this policy to allow users to submit anonymous reviews of doctors, similar to how WebMD does. Otherwise, Angie's List is "talking the talk" of free speech, but looking the other way when it comes to this new, disturbing policy.
5/7/2009 10:08:06 AM
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Aaron
I have a problem with health care recipients rendering opinions about the care they receive. Any opinions should come from people educated and trained in the health care field. Health care providers should be off
limits to Angies list and other rating entities. If anyone should
provide
a rating or review of any service, they should be knowledgeable of the field and have walked in the shoes so to speak.
5/7/2009 10:07:25 AM
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David
Of course patients should have and, I believe, do have the right to commenton care received from health professionals. Obviously the laws governing slander and libel still also apply. You don't have the right to spread negative comments which have no basis in fact and if your comments could be shown to adversely affect a doctor's income, you might end up with a substantial judgement against you. On the other hand, I do not believe that there is any legal basis for treating the medical profession any differently from any other where a fee is charged for a service.
Regarding the spackling knife and the scapel, Doctors should remember that the origins of their profession are relatively humble ;- in the British navy, the ship's carpenter doubled as the ship's doctor for many years anddue to the frequency of amputations in those days was referred to as "sawbones" because they used the same tools.
One of the most irritating habits practised by many in the medical field isto over book patients or to seriously underestimate the time required per patient. This results in a long waiting period for the patient
(customer) and presumably a higher income for the doctor. By doing this, the doctor is saying that his time is more important than that of the person who is paying for the service.The Emory Medical System was so bad at keeping appointments that I used to joke that the University could not have a football team because they wouldn't be on the field until halftime. I have a dentist and at least one doctor who hardly ever keep me waiting so I know it can be done. I have always complained about this abuse of the patient's time and now I see some improvement. Would this have happened without negative comments?
5/7/2009 10:06:50 AM
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Theresa
To ask people to evaluate the care of their cardiac status in the same manner they do their household plumbing misses the point that the relationship with theirr doctor is a uniquely personal one that is often fraught with considerable anxiety about their most precious asset, their life. Everyone agrees that patients should be able to express their opinions about their experiences. As your current evaluation process stands you are putting doctors in a situation that you are not putting any of your other providers on Angie's List. Not being able to respond to criticisms is "staced deck" unfairly penalizing the caregiver. I am a retired physician, a long term user of Angie's List,and a patient who has multiple medical problems. If I evaluated my physicians on bedside manner, the looks of the office, and punctuality I would have missed some of the best care I have received over the years. While these things have their place, patient respect, time spent with them, and actual concern about their problems are far more important. I am particulary concerned about physicians starting out in practice to whom "word of mouth" will determine if they can make a living or not. If you are going to put a segment of your provider list in an indefensible position you need to come up with some method of making for a balanced review possible.
5/7/2009 10:06:03 AM
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