Privacy Issues
How do you handle privacy issues that arise while blogging about health?
As a patient blogger, I don't mind disclosing the details of my health and treatment but I try to leave specific details that would make me easy to track down out of it. I also never mention the names of my doctors or hospitals I stay at.
What are your thoughts about this in regards to patient and other types of health blogging?
As a patient blogger, I don't mind disclosing the details of my health and treatment but I try to leave specific details that would make me easy to track down out of it. I also never mention the names of my doctors or hospitals I stay at.
What are your thoughts about this in regards to patient and other types of health blogging?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kristy Bassett on -
I agree, never mentions names. My own name is available, I feel it's good to be honest, and I am completely about myself, but would never disclose anyone else's information.
I have always been a very open person, so I find it easy to talk about my health experiences, but there are certain things I would never discuss, family life for example.
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Permalink Reply by Jack Barrette on -
Wow, great topic; at WEGO Health we are struck by how many Health Activists in particular share everything - and I mean *everything* - about themselves. And in general, we see people discussing health online as far less concerned about their own health privacy than government agencies might believe.
WEGO Health would be glad to put together some educational webinars/programs with you on this topic...
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Permalink Reply by Jenn on
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yes, I never give out my doctors name or where I receive treatment... I do however list specific medications that I take. Sometimes I talk about family (in terms of their interactions with my disorder) but I try not to do that as much. I am guilty of being a very open person. I am private about the strangest things.. and at times have been called a loner.. HAHAHAHA funny if you follow me online~ but it does become hard putting stuff out there to help others while maintaining your own personal boundaries.
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Permalink Reply by Diana Lee on -
This is such a great topic for discussion.
I am pretty open about my conditions, symptoms, treatments, etc., but I nearly always avoid sharing the names of doctors and clinics unless someone specifically asks me by e-mail. The one exception is a doctor who is well known in my illness's online community and who I initially learned about online. I go ahead and use his name because most readers know who I'm talking about and because I'm never actually talking about *him*, only saying he is the reason I went to such place at such time.
I only talk about myself and my situation unless I am sharing the story of someone I have specifically asked for person to talk about before writing. I just don't feel comfortable being an open book about anyone else's life or experiences. They haven't made the choice to blog, I have.
Finally, I'm trained as a journalist and always apply journalistic standards in writing my entries. I hope it allows my readers to feel as though they can trust what I'm saying when they see that I take my writing seriously.
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