There may be a lot of good doctors but...Everyone knows someone with a horrible doctor story.
So should you share your horrible experience? The answer is maybe.
First, it's time to applaud the online reviewers. After all, they face the risk of physicians refusing them care since refusing patients is a physician right. They face the risk of being sued by a physician because suing is a physician right. They face the risk of being "outvoted" or ridiculed by phony fans of the physician because hiring reputation managers is a physician right. All this for the noble purpose of alerting others to what we all know sometimes goes on but have limited recourse to address.
So for online reviewers, it's my opinion you should make sure of the following:
Narrowly focus on what aspect of your lousy care you're focusing on whether it's a billing or a clinical complaint, a timing complaint, an outcome-based complaint or some other issue. You don't want to divulge more of your own medical history to the public than necessary.
Make sure any statement you're making is true or else write, "In my opinion." The fact/opinion dichotomy is crucial when you're attacking someone's reputation. If you present facts, those should be presented neutrally. Your conclusion from the facts is your opinion.
Include your efforts to discuss your experience with your physician. This will indicate more about a physician than you might think and will also help your audience understand that you're not simply being an unreasonable customer.
Finally, include any research supporting your claim in terms of others with complaints about the same provider or in terms of an industry practice.
For those who consider the above and still go forward with their physician and healthcare provider reviews the rest of us say, "Thank you."
