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Doctors Don't Like Ratings Systems Any More Than Lawyers

By Carolyn Elefant

Doctors and lawyers may go head to head when it comes to the debate over medical malpractice, but they stand united in one regard: Neither profession is all that receptive toward client or patient ratings systems. But whereas lawyers responded to Avvo's proposed rating system with lawsuits alleging violations of consumer protection laws, doctors are using intimidation. According to the Washington Post, some doctors are requiring patients to sign broad agreements that prohibit online postings or commentary in any media outlet without prior written consent. Ron Miller of the The Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog doubts that such agreements would be enforceable. But legal issues aside, Miller doesn't see these agreements as a very wise practice since they raise questions about a doctor's conduct (as in, "Why wouldn't this doctor want to be rated?") as soon as the patient sets foot in the office. On the other hand, Miller is also disconcerted by the fact that commenters can post about a service provider with limited accountability, anywhere across the Internet. For John Bratt of Baltimore Injury Lawyer Blog, ratings systems are part and parcel of being in a customer service profession. He writes: The problem here is that all professionals, including...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on July 22, 2009 (boomark / email).