Comments on: Proposed Code of Conduct http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/ Blogging Code for Healthcare Professionals and Patients Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:42:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Maurice Bernstein, M.D. http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-8 Maurice Bernstein, M.D. Sun, 20 May 2007 17:00:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-8 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. 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.

]]> By: N=1 http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-7 N=1 Sun, 20 May 2007 16:30:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-7 So far, it all seems straight on and workable. Does this preclude blogging under pseudonym? Thanks for working on this, Rob.<br/><br/>Any rules of the road for commenters?<br/>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?<br/><br/>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?<br/><br/>How about a Grand Rounds theme of sorts inviting posts to discuss the state of the healthcare blogosphere? 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?

]]> By: Rob http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-6 Rob Sun, 20 May 2007 12:33:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-6 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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Judy: Thanks. Nit-pick away. It would be embarrassing to have a professional code with misspellings. 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.

]]> By: Judy http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-5 Judy Sun, 20 May 2007 07:59:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-5 Just one nit to pick. <br/><br/>The word is cite, not site when identifying sources. Just one nit to pick.

The word is cite, not site when identifying sources.

]]> By: Clark Bartram http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-4 Clark Bartram Sun, 20 May 2007 03:42:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-4 What do you mean by credentials? What do you mean by credentials?

]]> By: Rob http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-3 Rob Sun, 20 May 2007 03:07:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-3 Done. I added the three suggested. Agree with them all.<br/><br/>Feel free to put your graphics guys on this. I will miss the llama, however. 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.

]]> By: Val Jones http://medbloggercode.com/2007/05/19/proposed-code-of-conduct/#comment-2 Val Jones Sun, 20 May 2007 02:56:00 +0000 http://medbloggercode.com/?p=3#comment-2 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? 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?

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