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Disclaimer Update: Providing Information vs. Medical Advice

post #1 of 15
Thread Starter 
The opinions offered at Mothering.com and MotheringDotCommunity are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking care because of something you have read here.

At Mothering, we focus on topics from a natural point of view. We recognize parents as experts and seek to provide truly helpful information upon which parents can make informed choices. Our discussions on the boards are about the real world of mothering and are first and foremost, for support and information.

Requests for Heath Information
Discussion should focus on requests for information, personal experience and support rather than requests for a diagnosis, prognosis or personalized treatment plan that could be construed as medical advice.

Responses to Health Questions
In an effort to avoid giving the appearance of offering medical advice, we ask that members attempt to respond to health-related questions with general information regarding conditions, alternative approaches and/or evidence-based research rather than offering specific personal instruction. Members are welcome to share their personal experiences and opinions, but please avoid telling others what they “should” do in their unique situation. Trust members to make their own personal healthcare decisions, in conjunction with a trained care provider as necessary.

Phrases like in my experience, you might consider, many find, research shows, studies find, some find xyz successful/helpful, you could try, etc. are all helpful ways to provide information and express personal opinion rather than personalized instruction.

Quote:
Providing information: You might consider applying ______ or offering______, many parents find that _____works well for _____ and here is how I personally determine if one needs medical attention (provide information or link).

vs.

Providing medical advice: You should immediately administer _____ or you have xyz condition and should start taking _______.
post #2 of 15
I likes it.

........not that you need my approval, I'm just sayin'

(eta) Oh, I thought of something, if someone posts "research shows", my opinion, for what it's worth, should include links to the resources. ANYONE can say "research shows" but saying "research shows that cat poop is good for eye infections" doesn't make it true. Ugh, gross example. First I could come up with. Just my thought on that.
post #3 of 15
Thanks! Yes, I definitely agree about the links, which is why I added "provide information or link" at the end of the example
Quote:
Providing information: You might consider applying ______ or offering______, many parents find that _____works well for _____ and here is how I personally determine if one needs medical attention (provide information or link).
post #4 of 15
: you guys have done a really good job with this.
post #5 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by georgia View Post
Thanks! Yes, I definitely agree about the links, which is why I added "provide information or link" at the end of the example
I think I fried my brain working yesterday, I managed to miss that part!
post #6 of 15
I hear you on fried brains

Links can be a very helpful way to provide further information so the OP can make a personal determination based on her/his unique circumstances.

Thanks for the feedback!
post #7 of 15
Is this applicable to posting while in active labour? Or are these two issues still completely separate?
post #8 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by poiyt View Post
Is this applicable to posting while in active labour? Or are these two issues still completely separate?
It is applicable to labor.
post #9 of 15
I sort of agree but shouldn't the onus be on the reader? I mean, even general advice can be total bull and misleading.
post #10 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by abimommy View Post
It is applicable to labor.
ONly on the UC forum, right?
post #11 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysticmomma View Post
ONly on the UC forum, right?

That has been updated.


http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=666543
post #12 of 15
TY. I just meant that we can still post in our DDC's and such with "I"m in labor" type stuff"? Y or N?
post #13 of 15
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysticmomma View Post
TY. I just meant that we can still post in our DDC's and such with "I"m in labor" type stuff"? Y or N?
Oh yeah, announcements of labor are fine. We can't just have the labor type of threads that are sometimes done.

There was an incident where someone was told no about labor announcements but that was my error. :
post #14 of 15
Thank you - I do appreciate that it applies to other forums as well.

So just to clarify..for my sake...(because I swear my growing baby has eaten half of my brain..) I can post a labour announcement in the UC forum (yay labour started!), and I can post updates (contractions are now 10minutes apart), and I can obviously post baby is here (yay!) but I cannot actively seek advice (as in...I have slight fever - what should I do?)

Further clarification (again, sorry...) If I post one of the allowed threads, and someone offers advice (in the form prescribed for the above forums - with links) is that okay? Can I post an update on my labour if others *might* see it as a reason to seek medical advice (long labour after waters broken)..assuming I am not seeking advice, just letting people know how I am doing..
post #15 of 15
I thought you could seek advice, but nobody is supposed to give advice, but rather refer you to particular references that you could better evaluate yourself?
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