A question to Members and Guests.....

Recently there was a post on the site from a member requesting information about how to care for her post operative pacemaker dressing and wound site. I just so happened to be the first one to respond to her post.

My response to her although not mentioned was based on my 20+ years of Critical Care nursing with training in wound management. One memeber tended to disagree with my comments. Which is fine. However, I felt the information being provided by this individual was erroneous and it would not be prudent of me to sit by and not comment. This is a site where people do come to seek information and or advice. I think we all try to ensure the information we provide reflects current practise and is evidence based. The individual who disagreed with me took great offense to my follow up comment and attempted to imtimidate me publicly and privately.

I recognize we all come from different walks off life on this site and from all over the world where clinical practices can be different. Many have been through more surgeries than you or I can imagine. They share their stories I would assume to help others and for that I am thankful that they are willing to do so.

I have always enjoyed this site and have found it to be a wealth of information with respect to hearing about others personal experiences and support.

It is unfortunate that this particular individual took offense when not agreed with. There were things that I did agree with this and I apologized if some of my comments caused them angst.

I would hope that individuals who use this site use it as a resource for gathering information only, and would consult their GP or surgeon when in doubt about treatment and/or care.

My question to members and guests....would you find it beneficial when individuals are responding to your inquiries if they mention whether they are basing their information on personal experience, professional practice or both? Just a thought.....

4 Comments

My thoughts

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-14 02:01:47

My feeling is that we all know, or should know, that the majority of the folks on this site aren't medical professionals. For those that are it isn't ethical to give advice to someone who is not their patient.

My suggestion is to use our personal profile page to convey our background as we see it (as you have in noting that you are a Critical Care Nurse). Otherwise, we will bloat the responses with repetitive background material.

frank

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by peter - 2009-01-14 04:01:16

I wish there were more professionals on this site as although we can all make mistakes, an informed veiw from a professional is very welcome as it helps to give a fuller picture. I do hope you havent been put off by the one person who disagreed with you as there will have been many on this site who much appreciated your posting and expert knowledge. Keeep up the good work.
Cheers Peter

Good Bye

by Bill-2 - 2009-01-14 10:01:53


I had told Mary Anne that I was not going to post anything else here. But after reading this message in which she is apparently trying to enlist support for her views, and since I'm "The individual who disagreed with me took great offense to my follow up comment and attempted to intimidate me publicly and privately." she referred to, I do have a few more words. After this I'll not try to make another contribution as I can see at least one "professional" would like for us know-nothings to keep our mouth shut.

In my original comment I was not disagreeing with Mary Anne as I had not even seen what she had to say when I posted my comment. In fact the few times I have posted any comment, I have purposely not looked at previous comments because I thought people asking questions were looking for a diversity of opinions, not medical advice. In the 10 or 11 comments I have made here were for the most part based on my 40+ years of experiences with many surgeries. I might add I never had one minutes problems with any of these and I more or less followed the procedures I offered Failed Ablation. So when Mary Anne singled me out for her disagreement I was irritated because several others had made comments very similar to mine, but it was Bill-2 she named. And just for the record, the doctor's orders that Failed Ablation found later were much closer to what I had offered than that of Mary Anne, but neither of us were squarely on target.

So Mary Anne if I stepped on your ego with any of my comments, or the private message I sent you in reply to the private message you sent me, that's tough.

With that said, I'm through with this of BS. This site doesn't need me and I don't need it. I may continue to read from time to time, but I'll not risk contradicting another of the professionals.

Bill-2

well i really knowing maryannand cab'g patch their opinions and smitty and electric frank are really appreciated. maryann especially

by jessie - 2009-01-16 08:01:07

because maryannworks in critical care centre in b.c. so they would be current and she would be current.i myself was a physch nurse and i can see how some people would not like to hear what i have to say lol. lets keep a little humour guys . we are all just one big family and are here for a purpose. jessie

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