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While thinking about what has happened to Flea, I recalled Dr. Hébert’s farewell to Barb (now exposed to the world as Dr. Jillian Tomlinson). I went back and read it again. Some of what he wrote in his impressive essay is very relevant to what happened to Flea (and probably to Fat Doctor too).

I would recommend those who have not yet read it to go over and do so.

Here is a short pertinent excerpt (reproduced without getting prior permission, but I’m sure Dr. Hébert will understand that it was done in the right spirit).

Blogs have to be honest to be believable. Readers can tell the difference between a doctor who is speaking her mind and one who is spewing promotional schlock. For a medical blog to be of any value, the writer has to make it real, and that means telling stories that have the ring of truth to them. Barb (replaced with Flea, it would be just as relevant) told the truth about her experiences, and that meant that she did not always put medicine, or the people who practiced it, in the best light.But if we medical people do not admit to being less than perfect, what is the point of saying anything? And if we say nothing rather then appear imperfect, does this help medicine, or render it sterile?

Also very relevant are his thoughts on anonymous blogging, which I won’t take the liberty of posting here. Please go there and read the entire post, thinking of Flea as you read it.

Update:

One other post about this issue which ought to be read by all medical bloggers, especially the ‘anonymous’ ones. (Thanks JMB)

Surely we are not seeing this grand experiment fall in upon itself so quickly? I hope not, because I for one have invested a lot of time and energy into this new frontier and I don’t intend to let medical blogs go the way of the dodo without a fight!

What is happening to Medical Blogs? - Dr. Phillip V. Gordon at Tales From The Womb.

Here’s another much-followed medical blogger’s view….

I think some people feel it is their job to get offended. They look for ways to feel pain from innocent statements and then blame the person who made the statement for callousness. There is nothing wrong with talking about our lives, and even our frustrations with other people. We need to be sensitive in how we do it, but so does everyone. I would not talk about my neighbor any more harshly or openly than I do a patient. It is just plain courtesy.

That is why I am not anonymous.

Revealing my identity makes it harder for me to fall into the “chat room” mentality that uses anonymity as a springboard for behavior that would never happen if my name was known. What I say, I stand behind. If I say something offensive, they have the right to challenge me. If I am wrong, I will say so and make the correction and/or apologize.

I am a blogger. I am a doctor. - Dr. Robert Lamberts.

Kevin, MD shares his views about how physician blogs are viewed by the hidebound medical establishment and the media.

Until the medical establishment can join the 21st century and accept that blogs are here to stay, growth of the medical blogosphere will be limited. It may take awhile.

Black Wednesday: A dark day for the medical blogosphere - Kevin, MD.

Also not to be missed, a well-informed & passionate layperson’s view…

This is not justice, friends. Since when does an entire class of people have to live in fear of expressing themselves openly in this country???

Since When…? - Moof.

Related Post:

What Happened to Flea?

Solidarity - at I’m A Blogaholic.

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