Policy for Comments on Mesh News Desk

MND, August 20, 2015 ~ The goal of this website, Mesh News Desk (Mesh Medical Device News Desk) is to provide information to survivors of pelvic and hernia mesh and medical devices to create empowered patients about the dangers and pitfalls of mesh implants. Over the past six months or so, we’ve seen some blogging which we believe is abusive and does not benefit our readership in any way but more than likely causes confusion and ill feelings. In order to protect the quality of our content and to prevent anyone from misleading our readership we feel that it is necessary to set some standards and create procedures for dealing with abuse.

Your opinions are valued to this matter. Here are some of our initial thoughts.

* Since many negative or attacking bloggers seem to have an alias or multiple identities. With multiple names, the same person can increase the volume of negative comments on the same topic. The goal appears to be to hide behind a new identity. This is often accomplished by an entirely new name or by using one’s middle name as a last name. In the future, that practice will be a red flag and the poster will be required to stick to one name only.

* Comments that include sweeping generalizations will be discouraged especially if they are disparaging in nature. For example, “Most patients have bad outcomes like I did” is likely not quantified or even accurate. Only post what you know to be true! If it is your opinion, state it as such.

* Comments that use abusive language, and especially if it is aimed at another person, including, but not limited to profanity, name calling and gross over generalizations, will not be tolerated.

* Comments that include someone else's email with the intention others should contact them for whatever purpose, will be omitted.

Looking forward to your thoughts on this issue. Thank you!!

In the meantime, hernia mesh surgeon Dr. Kevin Petersen of Las Vegas has come up with a policy on his own website (No Insurance Surgery) also offering guidelines in the blogosphere.

"Open response to negative bloggers," was created by Dr. Kevin Petersen, general surgeon who specializes in non-mesh hernia repair and treatment of patients with hernia mesh complications.

http://www.noinsurancesurgery.com/open-response-to-negative-bloggers.htm#gsc.tab=0