More of us are losing our voices when we go to the doctor, it seems. No, it’s not laryngitis, but it does seem to be contagious. Apparently the practice of getting patients to sign waiver forms to prevent them from posting criticism on the Internet about their doctors is catching on. At least that is what is being reported in several newspapers in recent days.
It’s another example of the perils of open communication. More patients are sharing their experiences, both positive and negative, in online review forums and social networks, and that is causing some aches and pains. Some doctors are complaining that the proliferation of medical consumer forums is putting them in a difficult position. Since trust is such an integral part of the medical profession, the potential damage of a negative review is significant. An ounce of prophylactic privacy, these medicos say, is better than a pound of cure; so, instead of the prescription pad they reach for the legal pad.
Still, getting a patient to give up his or her right to a public opinion seems a high price to extract in return for treatment.
Doctors are saying that they have to protect their online reputations and that the forms are a useful tool to get web sites to remove negative comments, but the backlash could be a bitter pill to swallow.
How would you react if your doctor demanded that you sign such an agreement?
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