With non professionals giving answers to medical questions. What if someone acts on bad advice and dies? Is Yahoo not partially responsible? I thought I would see them issue a disclaimer and also advice people to consult with their doctor before acting on any suggestions offered...what gives?
2007-10-02 02:07:04 · 16 answers · asked by crosseyedlemon 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I realize that most adults will use common sense but many young teenagers use this site. Who is looking out for them?
2007-10-02 02:32:23 · update #1
no, any fool listening to advice on this site for medical help deserves what they get.
2007-10-02 02:11:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hi, if you give an answer to a medical problem and something goes wrong then the person who gives the answer can be prosecuted for negligence and a custodial sentence could be imposed on them. i agree a disclaimer should be issued but ultimately nobody should take anything without checking it out with a medical practitioner.
2007-10-02 04:27:48 · answer #2 · answered by mini de minx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you rasie a very important point. i think some way has to be found for this mess especially as you righly point out in the case of medical questions. although i think sometimes even adults can be misled, especially if the advice is of a very technical nature, then even good adult common sense may take a sad beating.
2007-10-02 08:03:38 · answer #3 · answered by tony 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we need to get back to something that seems to be lacking in society: common sense. If you want to know how other people deal with topics such as weight loss, or maybe the best product to get rid of warts, or stuff like that, then Answers is a great place.
But I've seen people who are pregnant and aren't sure if it's time to go to the hospital yet get on Answers and ask the question. To me, that just lacks all common sense. If you have to ask, then you should be asking a professional.
So I think as far as lawsuits go- while in this country you can sue anyone for anything including yourself for nothing, the door's wide open, I think Yahoo Answers is obviously a place where people ask at their own risk. Anyone with common sense should know that.
Great question though.
2007-10-02 02:18:06 · answer #4 · answered by bmattj121 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully people will be sensible to enough to also consult other sources.
those who aren't... can we call it natural selection?
I imagine provioding a forum for people to discuss things wouldn't hold you liable for consequences of their advice. Same way if someone on the buss tells you to do something stupid you don't sue the bus company.
If you see any answers that are dangerous you should report them.
2007-10-02 02:50:36 · answer #5 · answered by K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greetings. the only way to be totally safe is to be dead. people on here might give bad advice. But licensed doctors do that all the time. My own step father died in a hospital while being treated for heart disease. one that he did not have. at the autopsy they found that he had a blood disease that could have been simply treated but they misdiagosed him and the cure killed him. my neighbor here had a small lump on her back and went to the doctors. they claimed it was cancer. she went in for chemo theraphy and radiation theraphy. by 3 months after she had lost all her hair and dropped down to weighting about 90 pounds they said she was cured. a month later they tell her that the cancer has spread through her entire body. was a sad funeral. my wife had wanted her to try alternate medicine but she said the doctors knew better, they were experts and she paid for that false belief with her life. So I think that it should be up to the person that has something wrong with them what they want to do with their own body. Want to trust a stranger on the net or want to trust your local doctor who will prescibe treatment with super dangerous drugs that may not help at all and could kill you? choice should be with the person who needs help.
2007-10-02 02:45:29 · answer #6 · answered by Rich M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Occasionally when I see someone asking for medical advice on here and see the answers from teenagers who's questions include 'What should I name my rabbit?', and 'Do you think I'm hot?', I tell the asker that he/she should be seeking professional advice instead of posting their question here. It's what got my account suspended.
2007-10-02 02:41:45 · answer #7 · answered by thor_torkenson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are answers which are downright wrong being offered (and awarded best answer status) here all the time.
i think you will find that y!a has lots of disclaimers all over the site. and since they make no claim whatever to quality control on the answers offered (they couldn't) it would be very hard to sue them.
2007-10-02 02:30:56 · answer #8 · answered by synopsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps disclaimers should be in order, i'd be in support of some censorship for the most obvious ill advice.
2007-10-02 02:54:37 · answer #9 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is called natural selection. If someone is going to follow medical advice they receive anonymously over the Internet then maybe they should be removed from the gene pool.
2007-10-02 02:20:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question,,,, there is teens on here i am a single mom but i do not let the kids on with out me being there, i don't think its a real good idea that the kids are on sites they should not be on.. and this should be just for fun,,, know one can tell you how to act or what to tell others or what to use when you have a cold.
its a wonderful question,,, thanks a bunch....:))))))))))))))))))))))))
2007-10-02 05:18:37 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋