Proposed Code of Conduct
By subscribing to this code, we agree to the following:
- We will post our credentials on our blog
- We will maintain patient confidentiality
- We will not use our blog to give medical care
- We will work to correct any inaccuracies
- We will cite sources when appropriate
- Medical blogs can be a forum to debate ideas, but not for libel against individuals.
- Financial disclosures/conflicts of interest (e.g. industry ties)
- Disclosure regarding sales of any product and/or services through the blog
- Clear distinction between advertising and editorial content
Comments, suggestions??
Great start! I might add something like 1) financial disclosures/conflicts of interest (e.g. industry ties) and 2) transparency regarding potential blog support. We wouldn’t want to have a medical blogger getting paid for promoting a product in his/her posts without disclosing that… 3) Clear distinction between advertising and editorial content The llama is charming, though perhaps less recognized as a symbol of medical integrity (outside of our inner circle). I could get one of my graphic design buddies to come up with something for our review… Other thoughts, anyone?
Done. I added the three suggested. Agree with them all.
Feel free to put your graphics guys on this. I will miss the llama, however.
What do you mean by credentials?
Just one nit to pick.
The word is cite, not site when identifying sources.
Clark: The idea is that if someone represents themselves as a professional, they must at least say what kind of professional they are. If you started going on about drug-eluting stents, the fact that you are a pediatrician should at least be factored in to what your readers see (as opposed to if Dr. Wes said the same thing). It is OK for you to talk about drug-eluting stents, but what we want is “honesty in perspective.” We want readers to know what your perspective is.
If someone is just a patient, they certainly should be able to do medical blogging, but their comments and opinions must be viewed from the proper perspective.
Judy: Thanks. Nit-pick away. It would be embarrassing to have a professional code with misspellings.
So far, it all seems straight on and workable. Does this preclude blogging under pseudonym? Thanks for working on this, Rob.
Any rules of the road for commenters?
I notice that many bloggers require commenters to have a username and not post under anonymous. How about “rules for engagement”? No threats, no ad hominem attacks, no obscenity?
Those to me are the big three – if you can’t get your point across without resorting to those, how valid a point can it be?
How about a Grand Rounds theme of sorts inviting posts to discuss the state of the healthcare blogosphere?
I find nothing unethical about the Proposed Code of Conduct”. In fact, it meets the criteria for being ethical. Do you know whether the political blogs have a similar Code? ..Maurice.
So far, it all seems straight on and workable.