Medics face the music - RateMds.com coming to Australia
C
Jane Metlikovec
May 21, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Herald-Sun
A WEBSITE that lets patients rate and post harsh opinions of their
doctors is coming to Australia.
The RateMDs.com website has created a storm among US medical
professionals since it was launched in 2005.
Some of the 270,000 US doctors rated on the site have sued patients
for libel in the wake of anonymous postings labelling them awful,
negligent, unethical and "the worst doctor in the world".
One doctor won a court battle to have comments posted on him removed.
The Australian Medical Association has slammed the site, saying it
could lead doctors to leave the profession.
On the site, patients rate their doctors out of five for punctuality,
knowledge, helpfulness and overall quality, and then provide a short
comment about their experience.
Founder John Swapceinski is also behind RateMyTeachers.com, which
invites students to anonymously comment on their teachers.
Thousands of Victorian teachers have been rated since the Australian
site was launched a year ago.
Many have been left devastated after reading their profiles, where
they have been called "bitches" and "clueless".
Mr Swapceinski told the Herald Sun he was planning to launch the
Australian doctor rating site as early as September.
AMA Victorian president Mark Yates said the site would make hard-
working local doctors feel under-valued.
"This will be very distressing for medical professionals who put
themselves out there to do the best they can for the community," Dr
Yates said.
"People go into medicine because they feel they have a commitment to
help the community.
"This shows them the community does not value their hard work, and I
just hope it doesn't lead to people leaving the profession."
The site, which warns all users that anything libellous will be
removed, will allow doctors to post rebuttals.
But Dr Yates said that was not good enough, and patients should direct
any concerns through the appropriate avenues, the health services
commission and the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria.
"This is really a complaints site because the reality is that people
are more likely to post when they are unhappy about something," Dr
Yates said.
"Sometimes doctors do have to give bad news, or refuse patient
requests, and patients don't like that.
"It is unfair that they can then post any negative comment online."
Dr Yates said he hoped people saw the site as abuse of doctors.
"All we can do is appeal to the public to value their doctors,
reassure them and realise they are trying to do their best."