All members please read: Dear forum... - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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All members please read

3 Replies

Dear forum members,

Our wonderful online community now numbers almost 13,400 and a small group of admin work hard trying to moderate it for you.

We have recently noticed more posts asking for interpretation of photos or medical test results and we would politely remind that this is against our forum rules.

Our community guidelies state;

Professional Health Information:

The British Liver Trust community strives to provide useful, up-to-date information on matters of concern to members of the community affected by or at risk of a liver condition. The information posted on this site should not be used as a means of diagnosis, determining treatment, nor replace the relationship between you, your doctors and other healthcare professionals. For diagnosis and treatment options, you should always first consult your doctor.

In this respect the British Liver Trust asks that users do NOT post any test results or ask for specific comment on such. Test results vary according to both the individual’s whole health and the laboratory analysing the results and should therefore always be interpreted by the users own doctors.

Thank you for your continued understanding and for making our forum such a brilliantly supportive place to visit,

Very best wishes

The British Liver Trust Team

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3 Replies
grace111 profile image
grace111

i expect most of the people who post asking for interpretations of thier blood work are new to the forum and dont know your rules. maybe it would be helpful to some how put a notice on the community page where people join this part of healthunlocked before they can post leting them know not to ask for blood results.

as i feel so sorry for newbies ,they must feel awful when they'r worried and afraid and feel so rejected by the " british liver trust." you cant expect them to know the rules if they'r not told before hand.

MisterX profile image
MisterX

I have to say I strongly disagree with this post. Honestly someone should take a moment to reconsider this rule - or perhaps the BLT should consider using a different forum.

The reality of the situation is that people who have results are often in a complete, immediate and ongoing panic.

Every single set of replies to a post I've ever seen referring to test results has ALWAYS told the poster that he/she must rely on their doctors for definitive guidance.

However the insights provided here by multiple people familiar with what the results mean or may mean and sensible recommendations are of use and comfort to people genuinely terrified of the situation they are in and of immense help to clinicians who can field sensible informed questions from terrified patients rather than questions from patients panicked by reading what Google has to say about their condition - not to mention families.

I appreciate the burden on the moderators but I'd respectfully suggest the rule be reviewed in light of reality - perhaps with some input from people who've actually been through this - very few will insist people shouldn't be able to ask about results.

If the real concern is potential litigation, legal issues are easily dealt with by the use of a disclaimer.

A better more sensitive and realistic rule should be substituted - perhaps find a cirrhotic lawyer?

Otherwise I and many others are most appreciative of this forum.

MisterX profile image
MisterX in reply to MisterX

PS - Talking of cirrhotic lawyers - if you put your lawyers in touch with me I'd be happy to draft a more realistic rule for them. For free.

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