Healthcare Code of Ethics Update
The Healthcare blogger code of ethics is going quite strong, with nearly 40 blogs having agreed to adhere to the code and display the logo. Here are a few new developments:
- The website for the Code of Ethics blog has moved to http://medbloggercode.com.
- There now is a form you can fill in and submit your request to display the logo on your blog. Since this includes both patients and healthcare bloggers, it pretty much includes any normal blogger. The only websites that are being rejected are ones that are basically commercial sites.
- We are also starting the Healthcare Blog Gallery. In the upcoming months (and hopefully beyond that), reviews of healthcare and patient blogs will regularly appear there, making it a good reference to find out about other healthcare related blogs. The goal will be to make this a reference site for those who want to find out what healthcare blogs are on the web and find out a little about those blogs in the process. Only those blogs displaying and adhering to the code of ethics will be posted on the gallery. For an example of what the blog reviews will look like, check out the first of these, a review of Dr.Wes’ website.
The Healthcare Blogger Code of Ethics was designed in response to problems experienced by medical bloggers. The goal of this code is twofold
- To give the readers of a medical blogger a clear idea of the standards by which the blog is maintained.
- To give bloggers (especially anonymous ones) a clear set of guidelines they can show employers, patients, or other concerned parties as to the nature of the blogging.
Since healthcare blogging is sometimes dealing with extremely sensitive information, it is extremely important that these blogs maintain the highest of integrity.
My goal in doing this was to at least put down in writing the basic ethical guidelines by which good blogging occurs. I am very gratified by the enthusiasm by which this has been embraced by the blogging community. I have no false idea that this will force bloggers to be more ethical, but instead it will serve as a set of guidelines for readers and for future bloggers. It puts down in writing what most bloggers already are doing.
To those who have not seen the code of ethics, it is as follows:
- Clear representation of perspective - readers must understand the training and overall perspective of the author of a blog. Certainly bloggers can have opinions on subjects outside of their training, and these opinions may be true, but readers must have a place to look on a blog to get an idea of where this author is coming from. This also encompasses the idea of the distinction between advertisement and content. This does not preclude anonymous blogging, but it asks that even anonymous bloggers share the professional perspective from which they are blogging.
- Confidentiality - Bloggers must respect the nature of the relationship between patient and medical professionals and the clear need for confidentiality. All discussions of patients must be done in a way in which patients? identity cannot be inferred.
- Commercial Disclosure - the presence or absence of commercial ties of the author must be made clear for the readers. If the author is using their blog to pitch a product, it must be clear that they are doing that. Any ties to device manufacturer and/or pharmaceutical company ties must be clearly stated.
- Reliability of Information - citing sources when appropriate and changing inaccuracies when they are pointed out
- Courtesy - Bloggers should not engage in personal attacks, nor should they allow their commenters to do so. Debate and discussion of ideas is one of the major purposes of blogging. While the ideas people hold should be criticized and even confronted, the overall purpose is a discussion of ideas, not those who hold ideas.
If this summarizes the tenants by which you blog, feel free to submit your blog at the website.
