Doctors Using Fake Positive Reviews to Boost Business
A former federal government investigator uncovered that physicians are using fake online reviews after her personal experience with a new doctor was significantly worse than what patients indicated on review platforms.
Review trading: Kay Dean’s personal investigation revealed that reviewers on the doctor’s review platforms was part of a review trading group on Facebook, where organizations provide services in exchange for positive reviews.
Further distrust: During a time with record levels of distrust in science and medical professionals, 84% of patients use online reviews to assess a physician.
“I think there’s an erosion of business ethics because cheating is rewarded. You can’t compete in an environment where your competition is allowed to accumulate numerous fake reviews while you’re still trying to fill chairs in your business,” said Dean.
Existing Monkeypox Guidelines Are Almost All of Low Quality
Guidelines for monkeypox treatment is sparse amid the growing number of US cases, and much of what is available is low quality, according to a new systematic review.
Poor quality: Much of the advice found in the review was vague, contradictory, and lacked information regarding the care of higher-risk populations, like children.
Living guideline approach: The authors deduced that there is an urgent need for treatment and disease-prevention research and recommend a living guidelines approach that allows for updates as new evidence emerges.
Currently in the US, there were 12,689 confirmed cases as of August 16.
Walensky, Citing Botched Pandemic Response, Calls for CDC Reorganization
Rochelle Walensky, MD, director of the CDC, called for a structural reorganization for the agency in a meeting with senior staff yesterday, according to The New York Times.
Confusing and overwhelming: Walensky said that the CDC failed to respond quickly to the coronavirus pandemic. The agency’s response was also called “confusing and overwhelming” regarding messaging and mitigation measures.
“For 75 years, CDC and public health have been preparing for Covid-19, and in our big moment, our performance did not reliably meet expectations. My goal is a new, public health, action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication and timeliness,” said Walensky.
Change welcomed: Details of the reorganization plan has not been released but the change has been welcomed by at least two dozen senior staff members and by outside public health experts.
Kaitlin Edwards is a staff medical editor based in New York City. You can follow her on Twitter @kaitmedwards. For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
