# "I know you aren't my Dr., but..." Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 15, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275 "2012-07-15T03:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/21 "2012-07-15T13:42:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Also, there’s always that asshole who just yells at you to go to the doctor rather than answering the question, and this helps short circuit that response. Hey! I resemble that remark! 😛 Seriously, I’m not too worried about being sued. The only scenario I can imagine where it would hold up at all is if a respondent (best, intentionally) gave “medical advice” sufficiently damaging to cause longterm illness and/or death; persisted/escalated in delivering it; initiated off-board contact about it; and to strengthen the case, had as “victim” a person who was mentally deficient or in some other way easily persuaded. E.g., OP is a minor, an affected senior, maybe other. I’m not too worried even that posters will give suggestions with such potentially What I do worry about is enabling a sick person to any degree and for any reason to _delay or avoid_ seeing a doctor (incl a practitioner of psychological services). I’m all for complete non-interfence most of the time, but I can’t take the chance of helping someone avoid getting the treatment they need. Not seeking medical advice is standard procedure where I was raised. All our menfolk “die from lyin’ on the couch.” They have a mild heart attack working the farm, or they know they are suffering from black lung due to working the mines. What do they do? Certainly not go to a doctor or hospital. They lie on the couch to see if they’ll “feel better,” and instead they die there. Granted, I may be a bit “intense” from that cultural background: the population on SD is far different than in Appalachia. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/22 "2012-07-15T13:49:47Z")
Well, shoot. I edited that but it took too long. You take my point. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/23 "2012-07-15T17:39:58Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Seriously, I’m not too worried about being sued. The only scenario I can imagine where it would hold up at all is if a respondent (best, intentionally) gave “medical advice” sufficiently damaging to cause longterm illness and/or death; persisted/escalated in delivering it; initiated off-board contact about it; and to strengthen the case, had as “victim” a person who was mentally deficient or in some other way easily persuaded. E.g., OP is a minor, an affected senior, maybe other. IANAL :D, but it seems to me that even frivolous lawsuits can be a royal pain in the ass, and potentially involve significant incovenience and possibly expense. So, yes, it would probably take a lot for you to be **successfully** sued, but that doesn’t mean that you can just ignore the morons that try to sue you. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/24 "2012-07-15T18:07:26Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/25 "2012-07-15T19:44:30Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So I want to sue **Billfish678** ; how do I go about doing that, exactly? 😕 Sorry. We are not giving out legal advice, either. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/26 "2012-07-15T20:28:00Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > There’s been worry before, and talk about, actually prohibiting threads asking for medical and legal information or “advice” completely. At one point, Creative Loafing - the then owners of The Straight Dope Message Board - was concerned that they, not a poster, might be sued if a post containing potentially harmful or ineffective suggestion were made and someone actually followed it. Or so the scuttlebutt went. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > You shouldn’t believe scuttlebutt; more often than not it’s wildly incorrect. > > As in this case. While the rule was somewhat recently relaxed, it certainly was the case at one time that medical advice threads were not allowed at all and one of the reasons given was fear of lawsuits. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6154323](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6154323) I’d say that **WhyNot** was much closer to the truth than wildly incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/27 "2012-07-15T20:38:48Z")
Here is another one: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6918209&postcount=7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6918209&postcount=7) In a thread about medical advice on the Dope from several years ago: > [@TubaDiva](#): > > Might be some boards that were out there and have been put out of business by lawsuits. > > Litigation – especially frivolous, unjustified suits – are expensive and bothersome. For most companies (and certainly the majority of individuals), having to defend against such action can bring everything to a screeching halt. > > Easier just to shut the whole thing up and forget about it. In all sincerity, I am pleased that the rule has been softened. It is the right way to go, but not all of the old timers might be aware of it and remember how we used to do things. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/28 "2012-07-15T23:21:40Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > And what kind of idiot would do something from a suggestion on a website? _Our_ kind of idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/29 "2012-07-15T23:44:24Z")
I’d never seen it before - I guess I look at the wrong posts. I did go and look though. There should have been a disclaimer on that thread about Nasofix. Well two- one for the poster and one for the reader. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/30 "2012-07-16T01:09:17Z")
When I see this I can’t help but be reminded of the silly little urban legend that if you are upfront and ask an undercover if they indeed are police officers, then they are somehow _obligated_ to relinquish their true identities and give up the character they are playing. I’m not sure why. I just am. I know they aren’t even similar; just _similiar…_ Ya know? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/31 "2012-07-16T14:34:59Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Here is another one: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6918209&postcount=7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6918209&postcount=7) > > In a thread about medical advice on the Dope from several years ago: > > In all sincerity, I am pleased that the rule has been softened. It is the right way to go, but not all of the old timers might be aware of it and remember how we used to do things. The cost of litigation – even to defend against frivolous suits with absolutely zero merit – the cost can be staggering. At the time I wrote these postings it was explained to us by the _Reader_ attorney that the cost of defending against said frivolous suits would run into the thousands of dollars. It was not an expense the _Reader_ was willing to incur on our behalf and so we were instructed to cool it. In fact we were told by management at that time that ANY suit, whatever the merit, any legal action at all would mean the _Reader_ would close down the site, period, end of story. That was three owners ago. Not saying that current management is more willing to wrangle but I do note the most recent previous owners (Atalaya Management) backed once-sister publication _Washington City Paper_ when it ws sued by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. When Snyder threatened to bring suit, Atalaya said “bring it on.” The original owners were so averse to litigation than when confronted with action brought by another of their founding members they sold the company. Wasn’t the only reason but it was a major factor. [http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-suit-behind-the-sale/Content?oid=925739](http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-suit-behind-the-sale/Content?oid=925739) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/32 "2012-07-16T15:57:12Z")
So you’re posting evidence that scuttlebutt in this case was rather true. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/33 "2012-07-16T16:19:55Z")
Years and years and several owners ago. And nothing to do with Creative Loafing. At all. As I said. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/34 "2012-07-16T16:32:03Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Years and years and several owners ago. And nothing to do with Creative Loafing. At all. As I said. You said that **WhyNot** was “wildly inaccurate” when all she did was make the minor mistake of identifying the source as two owners ago rather than three owners ago. Other than that she was spot on. The important and quite accurate part of what she was trying to say was that under previous ownership it was true and it no longer is under the current owners. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/35 "2012-07-17T00:56:57Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > You said that **WhyNot** was “wildly inaccurate” when all she did was make the minor mistake of identifying the source as two owners ago rather than three owners ago. Other than that she was spot on. > > The important and quite accurate part of what she was trying to say was that under previous ownership it was true and it no longer is under the current owners. No. Here’s what I said: “You shouldn’t believe scuttlebutt; more often than not it’s wildly incorrect.” No implication to WhyNot in any way. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/36 "2012-07-17T01:03:18Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > When I see this I can’t help but be reminded of the silly little urban legend that if you are upfront and ask an undercover if they indeed are police officers, then they are somehow _obligated_ to relinquish their true identities and give up the character they are playing. I’m not sure why. I just am. I know they aren’t even similar; just _similiar…_ Ya know? Entertaining to think about where that takes you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/37 "2012-07-17T01:31:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > …Free advice on the internet is worth exactly what you pay for it.😉 And sometimes less! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275/38 "2012-07-17T01:45:06Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > And sometimes less! +1 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-you-arent-my-dr-but-why/628275.md?page=1)