Posted by: euser
March 09, 2009
Topic: Medical Products Liability

In this day in age you can go online and rate just about anything you want. Some sites do a number rating system and others allow you to have a forum for what or who you are rating and why you are giving it or them the said favorable or unfavorable comments. There are at least three sites that allow you to do this forum style rating in the medial feild, Zagat's, Angie's List, and RateMDs.com.

There are Doctors that are requiring patients to sign a form stating that the patient will not post any material online that has a negative connotation to it, in relationship to the doctor or his or her place of practice. Doctors are essentially demanding a gag order on patients who are not happy with the service they receive at their doctor's office.

John Swapceinski, creator of RateMDs.com said, "They're (Doctors) basically forcing the patients to choose between health care and their First Amendment right, and I really find that repulsive!" A "Wall of Shame", naming all doctors who use patient waivers is in the works.

The question is for you as a patient is do you believe every thing you read online or do you take everything with a grain of salt and determine for yourself what is worthy of concern. Question the medicine not the wait in the lobby.

Web Resources

Legal links:

• Christian & Davis, LLC's main website
• South Carolina Bar Association
• American Association for Justice
• South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association
• Findlaw
• Lawyers.com

Consumer and workers info links:

• Workcompcentral.com
• Home Safety Council
• People Over Profits Grassroots Action Center

Governmental links:

• South Carolina Judicial Department
• United States Judicial Department
• South Carolina Legislature
• Food and Drug Administration
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission

Nursing Home links:

• South Carolina LTC Ombudsman
• National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
• Member of the Family - Nursing Home Quality Trends & Staffing

Medical Resources:

• Lectric Law Library Lawcopedia's: Medical Malpractice
• New England Journal of Medicine
• Agency for Quality Health Care and Research
• Anatomy of the Human Body
• Workers Compensation Agencies
• National Library of Medicine
• Physician Profiles - Healthcare Choices
• AMA - Physician Sheet Health Grade
• Hospital Report Cards
• Merck Manual of Diagnosis & Therapy
• Merck Manual of Medical Information
• National Health Law Program HealthTouch
• Prescription Drug Information MedExplorer
• Medical Dictionaries