Cyber-Bullying Your Doctor Can Lead to Lawsuits

The internet is all about free speech, but you may want to give a little more thought to that rant you post online about your doctor's care because your comments can get you sued.

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SteveTapp - 5/24/2012 1:31 PM

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I object to this overextension and overuse of the word "bullying," especially in its new and most pernicious extension, "cyber-bullying." Bullying is when a person subjects another person to physical violence or threats of physical violence, NOT teasing, shaming, ridiculing, or any other verbal expression of disapproval. This is the wisdom encapsulated in the "Sticks and Stones" rhyme; but in a media-fed hysteria and stampede of our nation now composed mostly of herd animals (not the brave pioneers of yesteryear) milling around in our Nanny State and mooing about "bullying," freedom of speech is constricting daily. I could see a private website manager disallowing anonymous comments on a doctor evaluation website, but not on a political one where almost all the negative are about issues, not malpractice on the body. But who's providing the unspoofable online ID's for login anyway? I agree that if a patient has a beef about a doctor, she should go see a lawyer and not risk defamation online.