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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Oddzilla on July 14, 2000, at 8:20:46
I still can't post followups so I had to start a new thread.
Thanks for replying. I think you may have misunderstood my intent. The series of posts are clearer in context. I am unconcerned with a posters color, sex, or sexuality, I was interested in the question of credentials. It is not a personal attack on Toby.
If a person wishes to claim to be a doctor, is there anything to stop him? Does the disclaimer at the top remove liability for anyone who wishes to represent himself as a board certified psychiatrist (as Toby did) ?
If all that matters is being helpful wouldn't posing as a doctor make many people more helpful by adding an element of reassurance and authority? At he same time wouldn't it make harmful advice perhaps more harmful?
If a person wishes to be helpful without being willing to verify his credentials perhaps he should not post any claim to them?
I'm sorry if it seemed "personal" to you. That was long before my time and my interest was in the general principle not in the particular personality. Janice, sorry especially to you-I was under the impression that the post I pasted in the reply to was from you-so I put your name in the title. Thanks for your generosity in replying.
Best Wishes
Dr Odzilla
Bored certified in Babblology and Ethical Civility
Posted by Janice on July 14, 2000, at 9:52:25
In reply to Credentials Questions (continued), posted by Oddzilla on July 14, 2000, at 8:20:46
Hi O,
Actually I didn't misunderstand your intent, I probably just didn't make myself clear enough. Toby is the exact type of person you would want to encourage to come to PB, not discourage. I often use language that sounds personal to get my point across Odzilla.
Ultimately, this sounds like a job for Dr. bob and lawyers who specialize in internet law.
I don't know what reasons he/she would have to wish to remain anonymous. Perhaps he/she had mental health issues of their own that they discussed on PB, and these could have jeoprodized his/her career.
Janice
I often double check what my doctor says, after leaving his office. Creditentials can mean so little
ps you are sounding like bbob today.
Posted by Oddzilla on July 14, 2000, at 20:07:13
In reply to Re: Credentials Questions (continued), posted by Janice on July 14, 2000, at 9:52:25
> ps you are sounding like bbob today.And you're sounding exactly like yourself ;o)
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 15, 2000, at 0:18:26
In reply to Credentials Questions (continued), posted by Oddzilla on July 14, 2000, at 8:20:46
> If a person wishes to claim to be a doctor, is there anything to stop him? Does the disclaimer at the top remove liability for anyone who wishes to represent himself as a board certified psychiatrist (as Toby did) ?
The short answer is no, there's nothing to stop him.
And if someone's not a doctor, you probably can't sue them for malpractice. But you should be able to charge them with practicing medicine without a license -- or with fraud.
> If a person wishes to be helpful without being willing to verify his credentials perhaps he should not post any claim to them?
I see this as an issue of regulation vs. education. You can try to control (regulate) what people are exposed to, or you can let them be exposed and try to teach (educate) them regarding what to do with it. The former is a little too paternalistic for me, so my philosophy is to warn people not to believe everything they hear. For a few links on the topic of quality of information, see:
http://www.dr-bob.org/quality.html
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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