Posted by psych chat on October 28, 2009, at 21:04:33
In reply to Contacted the American Psychiatric Association, posted by psych chat on October 28, 2009, at 20:52:30
Here's a link to the APA's contact information if anyone wishes to express their concern about privacy and mental health forums:
http://www.psych.org/Footer/Contact.aspx
I really do believe these forums should have the following protections:
- a layer of security so that all the posts do not show up on Google
- a consent policy that conditions the use of this forum only if the user agrees to refrain from taking information from the forum and distributing it elsewhere (there is no "policing" - just a policy in place)
- the ability to edit/delete one's own posts
While the American Psychiatric Association obviously cannot regulate private individuals, they do have the authority to regulate the ethics of their own members.
If you are interested in mental health forums and privacy, please cut and paste the bullet points above and email it to the APA, requesting they consider implementing these ethical standards of privacy for those members who administer mental health forums in their code accordingly.
Here is their email address: apa@psych.org
Take care everyone.
poster:psych chat
thread:923225
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20090813/msgs/923228.html