Regulating "advice" posts

[HappyHamsters]

Not sure if this is the right place or if its best to contact mnhq?

Reading through several health threads recently there has been really dangerous and inappropriate "advice" given about what can be very serious health issues. Are there any opinions that this could be regulated? Posters could offer only their own experiences , treatments should not be suggested, op should always be advised to seek professional medical help and those posters saying they are hcp are happy to offer proof of registration.

Am I just being a fuss pot and accept anyone can contribute and op don't have to post,
Thanks

There's like a message at the top of the page. What more do you want? It's the internet, you can't make people prove they say who they are. Mumsnet isn't moderated. If you're bothered then report posts or pipe up on the thread.

You can't police people's posts.

There is no way you can monitor something like that, unless a post actually breaks talk guidelines.

It's the reason why there's a disclaimer at the top of the page in this very topic.

I guess if you did want a response from MN, you'd have to post in Site Stuff.

This is why I asked for opinions, that's all.

OK, thanks, just worry sometimes.

It’s really hard. They have all the appropriate disclaimers but some “advice” given on here is dangerous : and that’s only on a few things where I have specialist knowledge having been through something myself. I shudder to think what else gets on here and if people act on it. The trickiest thing is often the good/accurate/sound advice is drowned out by the wrong advice. I don’t know what the solution is.

In all honesty, if someone is going to take medical advice from a random on the internet, there's not much HQ can do.

You're probably right but there have been times when it's "go to hospital" over and over again, op does listen and they get the help they need. I guess it's the same with other topics too.

I think it is reasonable to expect posters of questions to show a bit of common sense and not nanny the site into oblivion.
As a clinical professional myself, I am happy to offer general advice but sharing registration details would make it an individual consultation which I don't think anyone would be happy to do for a stranger online so you would drive away any professionals and just be left with the "Sudocrem cures everything" crowd giving random advice.

Ironic as it seems, there is a disclaimer at the beginning of your post.

Good point, thank you.

I also just wondered why today's "constipation" thread got deleted

Indeed. I didn’t post on it (so as not to clog it up, so to speak), so no idea what the deletion message was.

It literally says this at the top of the health board. Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

I’ve found the advice I’ve got on here consistently good over the years. MN have successfully diagnosed my Dd with two significant medical conditions when the GP initially failed to and because of their advice I went back and insisted she was tested for x and referred to y.

but I do accept there is some rubbish advice sometimes but I think people must realise you can’t get correct advice from everyone and generally the balance of advice especially about the should I go to hospital or not threads is correct.