Please don't post looking for medical advice

tallaght01

Hi guys.

I've closed a few threads today, where people have been looking for medical advice. To be honest, none of the threads have been asking for anything that seems particularly harmful...BUT...it always goes the same way. The pattern is that as soon as one post appears asking for medical advice etc, the other appear straight away. I really hate closing people's threads. I know it's annoying for them.

Now, previously I was always happy to turn a blind eye to threads about people's own medical problems if it had already been diagnosed by a doc, and they were just looking for others' experiences etc.

I'm not sure that's somehting we should keep doing, though. What do people think about an absoloute blanket ban on people asking about their own medical conditions? Regardless of what they're asking?

Just like the psychology forum isn't for people to ask questions about their own mental health, the biology/medicine forum is here for discussion on issues relating to biology and medicine.

The long term illness forum is a good place to discuss any on-going health problems, though.

Thanks guys,

Tallaght01

gordon_gekko

closing a thread because someone asked for advice would be seen as completly absurd in any other forum
if i asked why my car wont start in the motoring forum , the moderator wouldnt close the thread , if i asked how my shares might perform in the business forum , the mod wouldnt lock the thread either

it smacks of elitism on the part of the medics in here , its a bit like trying to talk to a doctor on the phone , they dont do it , partly because theres not enough money in it for them but more importanly , there too important to talk to people on the phone , thats for car salesmen

Dr Galen

gordon_gekko wrote: »

closing a thread because someone asked for advice would be seen as completly absurd in any other forum
if i asked why my car wont start in the motoring forum , the moderator wouldnt close the thread , if i asked how my shares might perform in the business forum , the mod wouldnt lock the thread either

it smacks of elitism on the part of the medics in here , its a bit like trying to talk to a doctor on the phone , they dont do it , partly because theres not enough money in it for them but more importanly , there too important to talk to people on the phone , thats for car salesmen

you really do talk some nonsense sometimes Gordon_Gekko. You seem to have it in for the medical type professions from pretty much everything you write. In my opinion you've been tolerated enough, but let the moderators decide.

You also seem to miss the point twice.

Firstly this is a private website, free speech does not apply. If the topic that you want to talk about does not fit the charter or rules of the forum, then tough. Take it to feedback. Don't continue trying to have the fight on the forum itself and generally being trolly

Secondly, no matter what you think, medical advice cannot and should not be given without knowing a few basic facts, things that I would have thought YOU would be familiar with considering you have som much experience with all things medical.

When someone posts on here looking for advice on broken ribs.......no one here knows their medical history, allergies, or has examined them physically, never mind ran any diagnostic type tests on them. How can any advice then given be taken as valid? What happens if the advice turns out to be harmful? Whose liable....the poster or boards.ie or no-one? I certainly wouldn't like to be the test case.

Comparing medical advice to cars is absurd in any forum.

If you cannot see this and the real reasons why advcie can't be given out willy-nilly then I think maybe you need to have a long think and maybe head off to those other forums that you talk about.

ZorbaTehZ

gordon_gekko wrote: »

if i asked why my car wont start in the motoring forum , the moderator wouldnt close the thread , if i asked how my shares might perform in the business forum , the mod wouldnt lock the thread either

You don't see the difference between giving medical advice on the internets, and questions about stocks/cars... that is lol.

tallaght01 wrote:

I'm not sure that's somehting we should keep doing, though. What do people think about an absoloute blanket ban on people asking about their own medical conditions? Regardless of what they're asking?

Either way it's a moderater's nightmare. Personally I think there should be a blanket ban, but I'm not really able to give an informed opinion on it.

DrIndy

This happens a lot. We need to walk the line between freeing conversation which has allowed this forum to grow and curbing medico-legally dubious discussion.

I prefer not to lock threads either, its better they are not started.

Gordon_gecko - there are medico-legal aspect to this forum. we therefore exercise the discretion to close any thread we are concerned about.

tallaght01

The above is a good example of why i tend to ignore anything that gordon_gekko posts here. He's entitled to post his views, but I'm entitled not to read his crass generalisations, especially when he has non idea about how hard, or otherwise, I, or any of the docs on here work.

I think we all know gordon has some issues with doctors, and if it helps him to vent on here, then that's fine with me, to be honest. But I wouldn't take him too seriously.

On topic, i agree with DrIndy. it's very hard to know when to draw the line with "personal advice". It's easy to say something is "harmless advice". But what if someone comes on here asking about, say, a high temperature in their baby, and someone tells them just to use calpol...that all sounds harmless enough. But what if that calpol is masking the high temp that's a sign of meningitis? Often babies under 6 months show no signs of meningitis other than a high temp....in which case, who would take the blame for that? That's just one expample. I could think of a world of others.

It's a difficult line to draw, though.

Bison

The biggest problem with those threads are the replies that start with "I'm not a doctor but....." and then end with unhelpful waffle.

People like to research their conditions and may end up at this forum as part of that information search, so how about a sticky with some good sites for them to use?

I think this site is quite good for an overview on most common diseases http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/DiseasesIndex/DiseasesIndex

Odysseus

I had a thread locked here once when I was looking for peoples opinions not advise. Maybe I did'nt word the question properly.

I'm a long distance runner and due to a bike crash almost 18yrs ago I have a significant amount of metal work in my leg and I was interested in peoples opinions about this.

I had and still do regularly speak to my GP about it and I work in a medical facility and have gotton different opinions. I was trying to elaborate on my personal understanding of it if you get me.

From my viewpoint I wasn't seeking medical advise as I get that off my GP. But as most people know often the same professionals will have different opinions.

However, it has really stoped me from asking any questions here. I go to my GP first the ask the lads in work what they think most so in an attempt to develop more insight and then of course if I'm getting conflicting opinions its back to the GP.

I don't know if that makes sense, when it comes down to it here is there a difference between asking an opinion and seeking advise?

DrIndy

odyseus - its a fine line sometimes but we do need to draw it - its best to look at the way you phrase it. Asking a medical opinion is the same thing as medical advice as it can be construed as seeking to undermine the view of another doctor who has had the opportunity to see and examine you properly. In saying that, asking a medical question seeknig more information on a topic is not a problem

In accepting internet advice, you may not take appropriate treatment and then result in harm. This is the concern.

Discussing treatment is acceptable - but seeking treatment is not.

We are fairly open minded here. Both myself and tallaght01 are docs and we know when things are getting out of hand and can steer topics as acceptable and not. In many forums, even asking a medically sounding question receives a ban - something i extremely rarely do here where we try to encourage discussion without prejudicing correct and appropriate diagnostics and care.

we'll keep trying to do better!

Odysseus

I see what you mean Dr Indy its a difficult thing to guage. I also respect that both you and tallagh01 have a difficult position modding these type of issues. Due to the nature of my sports interest I am constantly seeking opinions on various topics and my chosen sport requires me to push myself to the limits.

However, I'm luckly that I have great faith in my GP and he takes a personal interest in my exploits. However, even though I respect my colleauges the final descision is always between myself and the GP.

Maybe I try thinking on who to states some questions in a different manner then next time I have some.

Even its an illness related question I generally describe the situation to the lads in work saying I'm off to my GP with [insert symptoms] what do you make of it? Regardsless of the answer I go to the GP. It a case of just trying to gather info and treatment options to facilitate a more informed discussion.

I never see it as a replacement for goimg to the GP, then there are others in work who just want free advise and treatment. I see the difficultly and as I sainy in my case maybe I worded my question wrong that time.

Supercell

It would be polite to explain the locking or deleting .

Its not often that I delete or move a post on my forum, but I do always either PM or explain in the post why its going no further in my forum.

We are are all busy people, but politeness is worth making time for I think.

nesf

tallaght01 wrote: »

What do people think about an absoloute blanket ban on people asking about their own medical conditions? Regardless of what they're asking?

Depends on the phrasing. I asked a question about memory impairment in bipolar, because I'm experiencing memory impairment and have "bipolar" but my question was about what the mechanisms of it was, not whether or not it was a symptom of the illness or whatever. What I asked wasn't a request for medical advice and really it couldn't be construed as being so.


If anything this forum should encourage people who want to get a better scientific understanding of what's happening to them, where it's not going to conflict with treatment or be dangerous etc. A similar case could be made for me wanting to understand Anafranil better and how tricyclics work. A question about whether Anafranil is right for me on the other hand would be a different story. Me asking a question about how Anafranil works shouldn't be any different to anyone else asking it tbh.

DrIndy

Nesf - you have pretty much hit the nail on the head.

tallaght01

I agree with nesf, too.

To my mind, this forum has never been about getting medical advice to boardsies. Just like, as I said before, the psychology forum isn't there to help with mental health problems.

There's also a thread on the front page of this forum asking people again not to post looking for medical advice.

Supercell, I have always always always written a polite reply after people have come on here looking for medical advice, up until recently when it's gotten out of control. There's thread on the front page, and there's specifics in the charter.

I closed your thread during a 36 hour shift. I was checking boards during the few minutes I had for my break. It's all very well to say it's polite to PM people, but sometimes you simply don't have time.

I have to say i'm less inclined to PM people as I'm pretty busy. I don't ever read charters. But, like I said there's a thread right in front of you saying "please don't post looking for medical advice". I also think most of us are adults, and we should have enough sense not to look for medical advice on a message board.