tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post5232289121888164701..comments2024-03-25T17:34:35.600+11:00Comments on Sarah Stewart: I am only humanSarah Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-678935181368742342008-06-04T16:14:00.000+10:002008-06-04T16:14:00.000+10:00Thank you both, Nancy and Michele for your support...Thank you both, Nancy and Michele for your support.Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-72460375328981354582008-06-03T20:42:00.000+10:002008-06-03T20:42:00.000+10:00Hi Sarah--I can understand your horror at putting ...Hi Sarah--I can understand your horror at putting your thoughts online about your colleague only to realize in retrospect that they were far more hurtful than you had intended or imagined. It's the blogging equivalent of "open mouth, insert foot," of which I've been guilty on many occasions. But I also have to say that I took a look at the posts and I don't really see how what you wrote was nearly so problematic as it was made out to be. I admit that I might be missing something here, but it seems that others involved in the flame war might have done well to think about what and how they were writing in this process. If anyone was attacked, it was you!<BR/><BR/>I think that you are taking an appropriately reflective view of your practices--"appropriate" in the sense that I don't see where you are unprofessional in what you reveal or how you discuss what you're learning. I say keep up your version of transparency, Sarah--we need more professionals like you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-36336831168458138412008-06-03T13:03:00.000+10:002008-06-03T13:03:00.000+10:00Sarah, you remind me of a great piece of advice I ...Sarah, you remind me of a great piece of advice I was given. Anything written in anger or strong emotion - wait 24 hours before you post it!Nancy Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374074594611764684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-63123522491757748572008-06-03T11:06:00.000+10:002008-06-03T11:06:00.000+10:00I do think the way we communicate is the key - its...I do think the way we communicate is the key - its not so much what we say but how we say it.<BR/><BR/>I think I would be far more sympathetic and understanding reading about a clinical mistake by a colleague if it was written in a thoughtful, reflective, 'humble' way. But if it came over as an arrogant rant (everything that went wrong was not my fault), then I am much less likely to take a sympathetic view of what was written. Does that make sense?<BR/><BR/>As for litigation, I have read and heard a number of times that health consumers do not necessarily sue because they want to make heaps of money, but rather that they want the health practitioner to acknowledge that he/she has made a mistake and has taken steps to make sure that the mistake does not happen again. <BR/><BR/>As for my online communication, if I have set myself up to be a role model with regards to being a midwife and educator who blogs, then I have to take the time to be really careful about how I communicate. This is one of the main lessons I have learned over the last few weeks. If I don't take that time, then my reputation will suffer.Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-47171520773131330562008-06-03T04:47:00.000+10:002008-06-03T04:47:00.000+10:00Sarah, thanks for writing on this issue. I think i...Sarah, thanks for writing on this issue. I think it is especially important for health care practitioners because of their unique role (and in many countries, liability issues). <BR/><BR/>I think there are some other bits in the mix:<BR/><BR/>* the risk may be more for people mid career than those at the start, or who have already developed a reputation. How do we practice transparency when we are in the "risky zone."<BR/><BR/>* how do we communicate our failings and subsequent learnings in productive ways - how often do people pull out the soundbite they want and discard the rest? I think it places the burden of clear communication on us. Are we ready and willing to do that work?Nancy Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374074594611764684noreply@blogger.com