Comments on: In Memorandum

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 21 May 2007 17:51:32 +0000

It’s not just the medical community that lost another good Doctor. Flea was a great clarifying and demystifying tour de force for parents as well.

I am sad to see him go.

By: Ami Chopine » Pediatric Grand Rounds 2.3

Ami Chopine » Pediatric Grand Rounds 2.3 — Mon, 21 May 2007 15:09:41 +0000

[...] Walter: In Memorandum [...]

By: Walter

Walter — Sun, 20 May 2007 23:14:32 +0000

I agree with you 100% Val.

What I’m referring to when I talk about trust is justifiability and attribution of “factual information” … that is, documentation of references and source citation.

I believe you’re referring to trust differently; trusting the lesson or message being taught through the parable. And on that point, I have similar feelings as you: author credentials, experience and writing wisdom are a basis for trust.

The HONcode includes principles for privacy, attribution and justifiability. However, the HONcode is designed primarily to protect the reader. Given recent events, a healthcare blogger code should also include principles to protect the author. Can a code offer something like that? I don’t know, but as a community, we need to define those protections.

By: Val Jones

Val Jones — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:01:50 +0000

Let’s keep the great dialogue going, Walter. I think that parables are a legitimate teaching tool – and that doctors should indeed fictionalize their patient stories if they’re going to write about them publicly. Trust should not be based on historical accuracy, but on the credentials of the author and the wisdom of his/her writing.