Posted by Tamar on October 31, 2005, at 4:46:11
In reply to Re: Use of title in ID's - my input » Dr. Bob, posted by Glydin on October 30, 2005, at 9:41:59
My two cents…
I tend to think that a username with a professional title can convey professional status and authority that isn’t particularly appropriate here unless perhaps the user is a guest expert. If a medical doctor wishes to provide professional support online, there are appropriate places for that. I’m just not sure this is one of them. If a medical doctor wishes to be involved with this community as an 'ordinary' poster, I think it’s more appropriate *not* to introduce him/herself with a username that includes the title Dr.
I have no problem with someone saying in a post, “Well, I’m a medical doctor and in my experience xyz,” just as I have no problem with someone saying, “Well, I have a PhD in millimeter wave physics and research seems to show abc.”
I agree with JenStar that as readers we have a responsibility to be careful about our assumptions. But on the other hand I teach Uni and I know what a challenge it is to get students to think critically, and most of them aren’t mentally ill. If some posters here are mentally ill and don’t have a university education, they could be quite vulnerable to the claims of anyone who sets him/herself up as an authority. So I think that’s the main ethical issue.
Another ethical issue might be that there’s no requirement here to register an interest. If someone claims professional authority and writes in favour of a particular drug (for example) there’s no way of knowing if they have a vested interest in that drug. That could be true of other (non-medical) discussions, but since healthcare is of particular concern here, I think it’s particularly relevant.
Please understand I’m talking in principle here; I haven’t seen any posts by anyone with a professional title in their username (except of course Dr Bob, and I think that’s different because he’s not an 'ordinary' poster).
Tamar
poster:Tamar
thread:572928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20051013/msgs/573664.html