Lindsey Hall raised some important issues:
"Considering earlier requests to share replies, I would be interested if
Bashyr and others have any ethical concerns about what commercial information
- and more importantly opinion - is shared.
Am I advertising by mentioning our current provider?
Is this ok in this forum?
Am I denigrating others by giving out reasons why we did not use them?
(though we provided feedback at the time)
Would I incur any liability by doing this. A number of OH service providers
from all corners of the profession subscribe to this list and may not like
what is said about them. I know of two subscribers, as on two occasions I
have been canvassed following an email to the mailbase. What are the ethics
of that?"
Dear List Members:
Lindsey has raised some important issues here. This is a professional,
member-led list, and as such there are few rigid rules, although we do
sometimes have self-appointed standard setters telling us how, in their
view the list should be managed.
Regarding confidentiality, commercialism etc. all I would suggest is that
you always remember that the list is an open forum, and archives are
available to anyone out there to read. It would be wrong for any user to
i. be under the impression that any discussion is in any way confidential;
ii. take any advice to be more than a subjective, personal view (as
compared to evidence-based practice).
By all means, give a comparative "personal" view about services etc. but do
also bear in mind the legal implications. Does any member (or the list as
a whole)want to be seen to be endorsing one product or service and decrying
another, with agencies then challenging views and claiming that as a result
they might have lost custom?
Generally, members fully appreciate the nature of this list as a friendly
forum for exchange of views, ideas and information. As long as we all keep
that in mind, and adhere to the general principles set out in the list
documents, then fine, let us continue to be a self-regulated, member-led
list.
Does this make things any clearer? Probably not...
Keep writing,
Regards
Bashyr
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