We put together a program whereby patients agree not to post about their treatment on the web. In exchange, they are granted additional privacy protections above and beyond that granted by law. Most patients value privacy far more than preserving unlimited rights to broadcast to the world 24/7. And patients retain multiple venues for communication and/or redress.

The solution addresses the matter, upfront. This is far better than trying to “clean up a mess” by having to prove defamation, after the fact, in court.

Also, we monitor the Internet to verify sites comply with the agreements.

Finally, if one thinks that patients are the only people posting on doctor rating sites, guess again. People posing as patients have learned the poower of negative posts. Who would pose as a patient? How about a disgruntled employee, a competitor, or an ex-spouse.

Jeffrey Segal, MD
Medical Justice Services, Inc.