How would you respond if a client or former client writes about you online?

[peripath]

---

Members don't see this ad.

In recent years there's been controversy over websites where people go to write anonymous reviews about their health care providers.

If you googled your name and found out that a client of former client of yours has been anonymously writing stuff about you, stuff related to therapy sessions and that is not untrue but that doesn't portray you in a very positive light, would you feel inclined to break patient confidentiality and take legal steps to either have the information removed from the internet or have the person punished for writing about you?

 

[DrGachet]

I'd be surprised if anybody says Yes. A more thought-provoking question would be about a current/former client writing vicious rumors about you, anonymously/not. And the rumors could be as mild as saying, He is often late (when in fact you're sometimes late). Or that he is a narcissistic ass. Or as extreme as, He raped me and I'm in process of filing a lawsuit (obviously posted anonymously, in this case).

 

[G Costanza]

I'd be surprised if anybody says Yes. A more thought-provoking question would be about a current/former client writing vicious rumors about you, anonymously/not. And the rumors could be as mild as saying, He is often late (when in fact you're sometimes late). Or that he is a narcissistic ass. Or as extreme as, He raped me and I'm in process of filing a lawsuit (obviously posted anonymously, in this case).

If it was posted anonymously, you wouldn't be breaking confidentiality by trying to get it removed from the website.

I think the bottom line is that if you do a good job, people write nice things about you. If you are late and narcissistic, client's don't say nice things and you likely won't be practicing long. The field has a nice way of weeding out bad therapists.

 

[DynamicDidactic]

If it was posted anonymously, you wouldn't be breaking confidentiality by trying to get it removed from the website.

not necessarily true. There is very little total confidentiality on the internet.

The reviewer may have used an email, only viewable to the moderators of the website, that contains their name or other identifying information. Either way, the website has that posters IP address, which mostly likely was their home/work computer. At the moment, the review is not corroborated. If the treater were to contact the website they would be corroborating that this person was indeed treated by this psychologist, which in turn is a breaking confidentiality. IMO anyway. This is an interesting situation, I am sure the local Psych association or the APA can assist in dealing with such a dilemma.

 

[deleted106747]

not necessarily true. There is very little total confidentiality on the internet.

The reviewer may have used an email, only viewable to the moderators of the website, that contains their name or other identifying information. Either way, the website has that posters IP address, which mostly likely was their home/work computer. At the moment, the review is not corroborated. If the treater were to contact the website they would be corroborating that this person was indeed treated by this psychologist, which in turn is a breaking confidentiality. IMO anyway. This is an interesting situation, I am sure the local Psych association or the APA can assist in dealing with such a dilemma.

I don't know that they're necessarily corroborating that this person was treated. You could say, there's this thing about me on the web, can you take it down, without admitting the patient was seen by you. I do agree that there should be some guidance from someone in the matter.

GC - I respectfully disagree that if you behave well toward your clients that they won't post negative things. There's all kinds of transference that can cause something like that.

 

[G Costanza]

GC - I respectfully disagree that if you behave well toward your clients that they won't post negative things. There's all kinds of transference that can cause something like that.

Agreed but good service gets you good feedback. Obviously not with all clients but as a general rule it does.

 

[peripath]

I don't know that they're necessarily corroborating that this person was treated. You could say, there's this thing about me on the web, can you take it down, without admitting the patient was seen by you. I do agree that there should be some guidance from someone in the matter.

GC - I respectfully disagree that if you behave well toward your clients that they won't post negative things. There's all kinds of transference that can cause something like that.

That's true. I also wonder how to proceed as far as litigation goes depending on the stuff the client writes about you. When is it defamation of character and how can you sue an "anonymous" internet writer without breaking patient confidentiality law?

 

[Phipps]

sorry. Posted in wrong place

 

[PerhapsMaybeOk]

one day I not only hope to be board certified, but have at least 4 stars on Yelp!