Not really, unless you have password-protected your website and have restricted access to those you would normally encounter in a conversation. Even then, damaging someone else’s reputation by spreading un-truths might still leave you liable.

Public website blog content is no different than publishing abroad or broadcasting, with worldwide distribution, in fact. Likening it to “talking over the fence” is patently ridiculous, it is much more public than that, particularly since web content is both searchable and link-able.

Obviously you’ve never been assaulted by a patient. The problem I have with having security escort a potentially violent patient out is that it looks really good for the sharks if something happens to the scumbag once he hits the streets, ie instead of hitting me he gets hit by a truck.

In his description of his experiences with our medical encounter he described his welling inner rage, tightening his hand into a fist and visualizing striking me.

For all his graphic detail he can now only enter my hospital and clinics when accompanied continuously by security. If he would get his posting off the web site and some anger management classes then perhaps I could let my workplace relax his restrictions. In the mean time, workplace safety rules are my ally.

Why should it be any different the other way around?