Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 20293

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e-health ethics

Posted by Noa on February 1, 2000, at 6:13:30

Just heard on the news there is an "e-health Ethics Summit" beginning today in Washington, and that a study will be released that shows that many e-health sites, despite their own privacy policies, have been sharing visitors' names and other information with other companies.

Comments, anyone? Dr. Bob?

 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 0:06:18

In reply to e-health ethics, posted by Noa on February 1, 2000, at 6:13:30

> Just heard on the news there is an "e-health Ethics Summit" beginning today in Washington, and that a study will be released that shows that many e-health sites, despite their own privacy policies, have been sharing visitors' names and other information with other companies.
>
> Comments, anyone? Dr. Bob?

As far as this site goes, I've addressed the question of anonymity in the FAQ:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#anonymous

I didn't say anything, however, about sharing names or other information. The "name" you give is public, and you don't register or anything, so I just don't have any other information.

FYI, the summit organizers asked for and may be distributing some suggested guidelines that I and others are working on:

http://www.dr-bob.org/ismho/suggestions.html

If anyone here has any comments, I'd be very interested in them.

Bob


 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Noa on February 2, 2000, at 5:33:56

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 0:06:18

Thanks, Dr. Bob. That was interesting. I read through the suggestions quickly, and will go back and read them more carefully later. One thought I do have at this point regards the following item:

"Proxies
Some clients are not in a position to consent themselves to receive mental health services. In those cases, consent should be obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or other authorized party -- and the identity of that party should be verified."

Because a counselor would be unable to confirm whether a client is a minor, what would the counselor's responsibility be if a minor portrayed him or herself as an adult?

Also, a question: The two organizations that are putting these suggestions together, how do they relate to the summit on internet health? Is the summit solely concerning provision of health services via email, or is it covering other internet health information services, too.

Finally, Dr. Bob, I am so impressed. You are doing so much. Do you ever have time to sleep?


 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 19:45:50

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Noa on February 2, 2000, at 5:33:56

> Because a counselor would be unable to confirm whether a client is a minor, what would the counselor's responsibility be if a minor portrayed him or herself as an adult?

Good question. I think it'll depend on whether the counselor made a good enough attempt to confirm that the client was an adult. One thing a counselor could do is ask to speak with the client's primary care physician. I'd consider that pretty reliable. Or the client could fax the counselor identification. Or there could be a question on a form on a web page. What's good enough? I don't think that's clear yet.

Is it true that one needs to be 18 to get a credit card? If so, it might be good enough for the counselor to ask for a credit card number, which he or she might be doing, anyway, to get paid...

Also, for there to be malpractice, something needs to go wrong. If a minor says he or she is an adult, but gets better, there's no malpractice case.

> Also, a question: The two organizations that are putting these suggestions together, how do they relate to the summit on internet health? Is the summit solely concerning provision of health services via email, or is it covering other internet health information services, too.

Neither ISMHO nor PSI are sponsors, though at least one ISMHO member is attending. I don't know much about what they're addressing, but I bet they're covering advertising: part of what prompted the whole thing was the controversy over drkoop.com. Isn't there more information at the web site?

> Finally, Dr. Bob, I am so impressed. You are doing so much. Do you ever have time to sleep?

Thanks! I do get to sleep some, but not enough. :-(

Bob

 

and, I bet, his house is clean.

Posted by Janice on February 2, 2000, at 20:24:23

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 19:45:50

just teasing Noa!

 

Re: and, I bet, his house is clean.

Posted by Noa on February 2, 2000, at 21:31:06

In reply to and, I bet, his house is clean., posted by Janice on February 2, 2000, at 20:24:23

> just teasing Noa!

ROFLOL!!

 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Abby on February 3, 2000, at 0:04:13

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 19:45:50

> >
> Is it true that one needs to be 18 to get a credit card? If so, it might be good enough for the counselor to ask for a credit card number, which he or she might be doing, anyway, to get paid...
>

Not now that debit cards are often also Visa and Mastercard, though some machines can tell the difference.

> Also, for there to be malpractice, something needs to go wrong. If a minor says he or she is an adult, but gets better, there's no malpractice case.

Some people would still raise hell.
>
> > Also, a question: The two organizations that are putting these suggestions together, how do they relate to the summit on internet health? Is the summit solely concerning provision of health services via email, or is it covering other internet health information services, too.
>
> Neither ISMHO nor PSI are sponsors, though at least one ISMHO member is attending. I don't know much about what they're addressing, but I bet they're covering advertising: part of what prompted the whole thing was the controversy over drkoop.com. Isn't there more information at the web site?
>
> > Finally, Dr. Bob, I am so impressed. You are doing so much. Do you ever have time to sleep?
>
> Thanks! I do get to sleep some, but not enough. :-(
>
> Bob

 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Cass on February 3, 2000, at 19:09:40

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Noa on February 2, 2000, at 5:33:56

> Because a counselor would be unable to confirm whether a client is a minor, what would the counselor's responsibility be if a minor portrayed him or herself as an adult?

I have to try hard to portray myself as an adult, and I am one. Talk about e-counseling confusion. Lol.

 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Noa on February 3, 2000, at 20:04:28

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2000, at 19:45:50

Dr. Bob, I like the idea of having contact between online therapist and primary care physician first. That also addresses ruling out any medical problems first, or at least including the medical stuff in the initial history. The credit card thing is more iffy. Teens are good at getting credit card numbers without their parents' knowledge. Also, some parents give their teens credit cards, believe it or not.

 

Re: e-health ethics

Posted by Dr. Bob on February 4, 2000, at 0:35:53

In reply to Re: e-health ethics, posted by Abby on February 3, 2000, at 0:04:13

> > Also, for there to be malpractice, something needs to go wrong. If a minor says he or she is an adult, but gets better, there's no malpractice case.
>
> Some people would still raise hell.

Yes, that's true. And malpractice isn't the only thing to be worried about. There's your license, too, for one thing...

Bob


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