Medical Forum needed ??

chas*e · 10-02-03, 05:09 PM

Hey ..Who out there thinks sSnakeSs.com should have a Reptile Health and Medical forum?....of course it must have a disclaimer that states that the help/advice given is non-professional and that sSnakeSs.com is in no way responsible for anything adverse advice...cool YES/NO

PS..as if you guys don't have enough to do...lol

crazyboy · 10-02-03, 05:15 PM

i think its a good idea

tHeGiNo · 10-02-03, 05:15 PM

I actually think that is an awesome idea.

ReptileHQ · 10-02-03, 05:17 PM

good idea Chuck, but I also think it would be good to have a few select professionals answering the questions....kind of an "ask the doctor" type of forum...

Chris

chas*e · 10-02-03, 05:26 PM

As you know Chris....there are semi-medical pros out there besides you and I....but this ain't football...lol....Ya, I will try to get some "Herp-friendly" Vets that I know to check in on us from time to time....the medical aspect of snakes is my, "my trip". I missed my calling and became a roofer...more money in roofing..lol

PS....that is if the "big guys" at sSnakeSs.com can do it ...maybe not who knows, legalities being what they are..I guess I could help out if they want

wyz · 10-02-03, 05:32 PM

I find it's a good idea..

Only problem I see is that it would have to be separated in some sections. i.e. snakes, liz, invert.. maybe even more than that.

I wouldn't put only 1 forum for this type of posts, I'm pretty sure it'll be just damn too popular !

Half of the threads are about sick animal or snakes that won't eat, etc...

WYZ

eyespy · 10-02-03, 05:33 PM

Here in the state of PA, I would get into bigtime trouble for participating on a forum that has a health section, even with disclaimers. It's against the terms of professional licenses in many states in the US and most countries in western Europe to participate in any forum that would give the viewer the impression of expert advice and I would risk getting points against my rehab and vet tech licenses or even a suspension. I don't know what the terms of Canadian professional licensure entails but that would be something to check out before inviting vets here.

If ssnakess.com ever gets a health forum I'll have to stop coming here. My license is more important to me than this forum, no matter how much I love it here.

TheRedDragon · 10-02-03, 05:35 PM

I think it's a really good idea.

chas*e · 10-02-03, 05:39 PM

I feel, although I could be wrong, that as long as there is NO medicines dispensed there should be no problems...after-all when a post about "what to do about mites" or " my snake isn't shedding right" is posted and answered, is that not a medical problem ...no charge --no problem

sSNAKESs.com · 10-02-03, 05:41 PM

Chuck and others... It was a great idea that has been thrown around a few times before... But for the reasons that Eyespy listed as well as some other legallities, we decided not to set one up as there is just way to many reprocussions that could arise from it... Sorry guys.

chas*e · 10-02-03, 05:43 PM

no really...i will pm you cool...jeff

eyespy · 10-02-03, 05:46 PM

Neither meds nor money come into the terms of professional licensure in many jurisdictions. Advising any type of treatment without a physical exam is enough to get a licensed healthcare professional into bigtime trouble.

Shane Tesser · 10-02-03, 05:55 PM

What if it was done in the form of care sheets eyespy? Like a loop hole of sorts. Perhaps an identification of a couple of well know problems, the usual cures etc? No actual advice would be handed down specifically, but a list of what to look for as a basis for a diagnoses would be there. With not only a disclaimer, but also always followed with proper care by a vet must be given...or something to that effect? Am i making sense? Lol probably not!!!

eyespy · 10-02-03, 06:10 PM

Care sheets are fine, and so is the occasional "what do I do" sort of post as long as the advice isn't for prescription items and such, it's when there's an entire dedicated forum that raises the expectations of viewers that they can get advice that the real licensing problems come into play. Those are the forums that licensed folks tend to shy away from.

The problem with dedicated forums is that they raise the expectation of members that they will be able to find advice there, and if a "reasonable person" can expect medical advice that is one of the tests that ends up getting points on a professional license.

So if some doofus writes a "my snake got burned by my hot rock" post, suppose I were to advise some stop-gap measures like cleaning the wound and using an antibiotic ointment until they get to the vet. But the owner never sees a vet and the snake dies or is left with bigtime scarring. I am personally liable for my post and so is ssnakess.com if the owner sues because it's a medical forum and he thought the advice was as good as a vet visit. Disclaimers don't tend to stand up in court nearly as much as whether the pet's owner thought that advice would save the snake without actually going to the vet. The attitude is that professionals should know better than to give advice over the phone or net as they never personally saw the animal.

I've noticed that the big breeders tend to shy away from the forums that contain medical sections too.

chas*e · 10-02-03, 06:13 PM

I think there is a way around(or through) anything."Adapt and Overcome" as the RECON troops say....I still believe that if a disclaimer is issued then you wouldn't get into much grief legally. As I said before, I have seen many many such medical threads on this and other forums. I will look into it if you guys(Jeff and Shane) don't mind from the Canadian standpoint anyways.