Medical Qualifications

[vicrev]

A lot probably will not like this,but I think it needs to be said.....Before people give medical advise on this Forum shouldn't they give their medical qualifications to back up their opinions ? If there wasn,t the anonymity of the internet & it was in the real world,some would certainly be open to litigation,big time,for wrong diagnosis ! Also the people who ask complete strangers for a diagnose of their ailments,don't they have Doctors etc in their countries ?................Vicrev

 

[caminoforme86]

I'm 'only' a nurse and an operating theatre one at that!

I'd never try give any medical advice, apart from......see a Dr!

But general common sense can be provided over this forum, such as discussing over counter remedies.

But I agree unless your medically trained and can back it up keep your tongue in your mouth or should that be fingers off the keypad!

 

[dougfitz]

Good point @vicrev. The alternative view is that if forum members ask a question here rather than or in addition to asking their own doctor, then they are not seeking an expert opinion, and so we don't need to qualify ourselves when we provide an answer. It seems reasonably clear to me that we are not providing answers in a context where we have put ourselves out as having specialist knowledge, but I am not a qualified lawyer anymore that I am qualified at anything more than first aid when it comes to medical matters

 

[David]

This is a forum - 'forum' - "a meeting place where views and ideas are exchanged" and you would regulate it? Censor it? Only allow certain people to give their opinion and bar all others? And who would be in charge of this? Who would be the one to decide who had the right to speak and who did not? And how would you check on these credentials that you want?
Crikey -

Vicrev - in this democratic and open forum posts are made asking for personal opinions about many topics including such things as blisters and the responses are from the experience of the person responding. That is how it works ... buen Camino

 

[BallVice]

I disagree on this statement. If someone is asking for advice (usually based on experience(s)) then you get what you pay for.

A forum is a GREAT PLACE to ask for advice and opinions and to share experiences (what worked - what didn't)...if you want more ...go see a real doctor.

I have MANY MANY MANY miles on my feet and joints - and a TON of "experience" dealing with injuries.

While I haven't posted on this site about any of it - I would OPENLY share my "experiences..." with anyone that asked.

If we followed this logic for the entire forum - then would we say that "if you aren't a professional tour guide for the Camino, you shouldn't post here...you don't have the appropriate qualifications?"

If that were the case - I probably wouldn't have had 1/2 of the experience that I had on this site prior to my trip last year.

Again - just my opinion!

Buen Camino

 

[karenfromcali]

A lot probably will not like this,but I think it needs to be said.....Before people give medical advise on this Forum shouldn't they give their medical qualifications to back up their opinions ? If there wasn,t the anonymity of the internet & it was in the real world,some would certainly be open to litigation,big time,for wrong diagnosis ! Also the people who ask complete strangers for a diagnose of their ailments,don't they have Doctors etc in their countries ?................Vicrev

Vicrev.
I have to say that I honestly, being a nurse myself, see what you are trying to say. We in the field are STRONGLY cautioned never to try and diagnose as litigation is a huge problem here in the US (and we are not doctors and may cause more harm than good). However, from what I have read the majority of questions are first aid questions such as dealing with blisters etc which don't need a degree to deal with. There are people who do attempt to diagnose, and there I can see your concern. But in fairness most on the forum, when they realize that the issue may be bigger refer the person to a doctor. The person asking the question has to take some responsibility and use a little common sense. People will always give people advise. On this forum there are many who have dealt with blisters and know how to treat them. Anything more serious should be seen by a doctor.

 

[Pruden]

I think people in this forum are telling others about their own experience, nothing like a medical or professional advice, and never for such a thing like a broken knee or or a serious illness.
For those you better go directly to a doctor or near hospital.
Buen Camino.

 

[Jnlee99]

This reminds of a story that people are not willing to help injured in fear of getting sued. As for me, I welcome experience based treatments recommendations and I can use my rationality to decide what to do with it. And, I hope if I am injured I hope people are willing to help. I promise to not to sue anyone

 

[lynnejohn]

I think these are all perfectly good points. I certainly wouldn't want "regulation" around this topic here on the forum. My fear when I see questions like "Should I walk a camino xxx months after xxx injury or surgery", "should I take this or that drug" is that the member will follow simply the advice from this forum and then not consult with their health professional, thinking they have all the information they need. Of course most questions are pretty straightforward re blisters, shin splints, fatigue, etc and we have lots of valuable information here on those, and similar issues. (I include the advice re OTC drugs because we don't know what medical conditions the questioner has, or what other drugs s/he is on. Even Advil/Ibuprofen, although thought to be innocuous to many, could be deadly to some people.)
Bottom line: I agree that we should continue the practice of advising those who pose medical questions that they should see a qualified health professional.
I don't intend to be prescriptive (no pun intended) regarding the behavior of other members, I just think we should be cautious in this area.

 

[vicrev]

I am not talking about the obvious walking things like blisters,sprains etc which are usually self treated with commonsense & prior prevention....The question is mainly about medical issues where the diagnosis needs to be given by a Doctor......Maybe I wasnt clear enough there............I walked with an englishman who was taking 3 ibufren morning & night,probably more in between,I asked if he had considered changing his Doctor(me being the King of Tact) he said some of the Pilgrims he has come in contact with take them for Pain Prevention........It is this sort of misinformation i am talking about.........I am not saying to leave injured people on the side of the road,banning people from giving medical opinions (even if its snake oil or waving a dead chicken over a fire) ........David, I havent said to censor,regulate,bar people,show credentials & I know what a Forum is......crikey.........I am just asking the question.............. ........Vicrev

 

[lynnejohn]

Vicrev, I think we're saying the same thing here... I agree that anyone, pilgrim or otherwise is morally obliged to offer aid to anyone sick or injured. Advice for minor stuff as I've indicated, is up to those here who feel they have the expertise/experience - blister prevention, for example. Giving advice on medical issues is something else altogether and I wouldn't.

 

[vicrev]

Hi Lynnejohn........Same wavelength...................Vicrev

 

[Tia Valeria]

While preparing for the Camino the advice given here can be helpful, especially for 'first timers'. However before leaving home we visit our own pharmacy and ask for advice and items we think we will need. The pharmacist is qualified to advise us. Similarly in Spain we would go into a farmacia and ask advise for any given problem. Again they are qualified to give such advice and to a greater extent than at home - e.g. they can give antibiotics. Also they would be able to say whether a doctor should be seen or not.
So long as the medical advice given on the forum is seen as just that all is well. It obviously isn't meant as medical diagnosis - and some people will abuse medication even when given by a medical practioner.

 

[Irène Elisabet]

Well I am a medical practitioner and I can tell you a well traveled pilgrim will know ALOT more than me about blister care, foot care, and how to deal with any minor, shall we say "food intolerances" commonly occurring on the Camino! That said, I think we all understand that people asking a medical type question on a Camino forum are not expecting professional medical advice. I've learned so much about blister treatment in this forum that seeing these things in clinic I apply what I've learned with my patients - so thanks to all of you!

 

[LTfit]

I am not talking about the obvious walking things like blisters,sprains etc which are usually self treated with commonsense & prior prevention....The question is mainly about medical issues where the diagnosis needs to be given by a Doctor......Maybe I wasnt clear enough there............I walked with an englishman who was taking 3 ibufren morning & night,probably more in between,I asked if he had considered changing his Doctor(me being the King of Tact) he said some of the Pilgrims he has come in contact with take them for Pain Prevention........It is this sort of misinformation i am talking about.........I am not saying to leave injured people on the side of the road,banning people from giving medical opinions (even if its snake oil or waving a dead chicken over a fire) ........David, I havent said to censor,regulate,bar people,show credentials & I know what a Forum is......crikey.........I am just asking the question.............. ........Vicrev

We are responsible for our own actions. This Englishman was possibly "misinformed" but he is the one in the end who decided to take the pills. A dosage of common sense would have been more appropriate! I have yet to come across forum member actually "diagnosing" others' ailments. In most cases we give advice based on empirical evidence which as Irène Elisabet has mentioned is quite beneficial.

On occasion I have given advice on the treatment of shin splints and the like based on my professional experience as a physiotherapist but in the end it is just one opinion.

Those of you out in the field provide valuable information to newbies. Keep up the good work!

 

[Wanderer64]

We now live in the era of the "cyberchondriac," in which people self-diagnose via online resources. This is also reflected in online forum cultures. It's sometimes a fine line between helpful advice and wrongful, unqualified, potentially harmful medical opinion.

Before setting out on my Camino, I got great information via this forum on minor medical matters. But I always took a caveat emptor approach. I always gave my family doctor and physiotherapist the last say.

Not sure Ivar can or should attempt to police the issue of medical/health advice on this forum.

 

[vicrev]

All I am asking is should people give their qualifications when giving serious medical advice pretty simple stuff isnt it !! .......If people want to take notice of misinformation that is their right !.............I am not saying the issue should be policed,read my post properly!...............LTfit you said you have given advice on shinsplints as a physiotherapist,isnt that qualified advice ?I would take notice of a physiotherapist about, shinsplints before a plumber(with all due respects to that honourable trade))...........once again,simple stuff!........I am not saying to stop,or censor, the medical blogs............it is just a question,not a personal opinion.......... .........Vicrev

 

[dougfitz]

It seems to me that there is a balance between providing a quick, readable answer with enough context to justify our advice, and continually qualifying ourselves.

It is not just medical matters where that might be considered useful. Other topics might be considered for this treatment, and sooner or later we will need a disclaimer notice on everything not posted by a recognized expert.

I would rather we let individuals qualify their advice if they feel that is necessary, and if others want to find out why some specific thing has been said, they can ask.

Regards

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I am a hospitalera, I am often asked for advice and opinions on pilgrims´maladies.
Usually the pilgrim has already decided what is wrong with him.
Sometimes he actually wants some treatment... but usually only what he´s decided is required.

 

[jpflavin1]

I am not sure asking for credentials on a forum is credible. Mainly because there is no way to validate them.

I think your generic question is valid. In my opinion, many Pilgrims/Hospitalero/a's are well qualified to give opinions on blisters, bug bites, tendonitis etc. based on personal experience. They should, imo, refrain from offering advice on mental illness and other major illnesses no matter what their personal experience. With the exception of, Please see a trained professional.

That said, as long as forum members will ask these questions, other members will respond.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[NicoZ]

Many people asking on forums don't want the right answer. They want somebody to confirm their own view.

Question "My leg is broken . Doctor want me to stop. Think I can walk it off?"

 

[stevenjarvis]

Sense , your, common, use......

 

[Canucks]

If we, as forum users and posters, feel we have to be intimidated by the prospect of litigation when responding to posts, that is a sorry state of affairs.....everyone should *know* to get appropriate medical advice so why does everyone feel compelled to say it? Do any of us here actually believe that we are getting serious medical advice here and need it explained otherwise??
Does anyone actually believe one of us will be embroiled in a lawsuit from someone, likely in a different country, when they ask an anonymous question and receive an anonymous answer?? That is truly pathetic if we truly believe that to be the case.
If it feels too bad to move on, don't..........if it feels better and makes sense to continue, based on your own common sense or someone else's experience, go ahead. If you want to track down people and sue them, don't seek answers on an Internet forum.
I would treat this the same as in real life when sitting around having dinner at night and the focus amongst pilgrims is on aches and pains....it is not anonymous and I wouldn't dream of shutting up because I was scared someone would sue me because I said "put on some Voltaren cream on your knee, I did and it worked".