"THE INFORMATION AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. NEITHER MYSELF NOR ANY OF MY AFFILIATES MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS WHATSOEVER WITH REGARD TO ANY INFORMATION OR SERVICE PROVIDED THROUGH THIS VISIT; AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL I OR ANY OF MY AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT RESULT IN ANY WAY FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE MY SERVICES OR ANY PARTS THEREOF, OR YOUR RELIANCE ON OR USE OF INFORMATION, OR SERVICES PROVIDED, OR THAT RESULT FROM MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, INTERRUPTIONS, DELETION OR ANY FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE. NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY AFFILIATES WARRANTS THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE OR THAT ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE OR OTHER MATERIAL ACCESSIBLE IN MY OFFICE IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS."
Imagine if I hung this notice in my office? I mean, it is so endearing, isn't it? Certainly people would be clamoring to see me, and I'd be free from legal recourse, right? What a deal!
And yet people seek advice from the health insurance industry who post such claims on their websites every day. By the thousands.
Sites that promote "best doctors" and offer medical advice and referrals have these claims. And each is really out there to help you with no hidden agenda.
Really. But just be sure to read the fine print:
As part of our services, Best Doctors may provide you with the names of doctors from our Best Doctors® database. This database consists of practitioners who have been recommended by their peers. Inclusion of a physician in our database does not constitute an endorsement of or warranty relating to the services of that physician for your case. Nor does it constitute an endorsement of or warranty relating to any particular treatment that a selected doctor may recommend. The names we provide to you are based solely on the information you give us. If you choose to use the services of one of the doctors from our database, this decision is entirely your responsibility. The medical services provided by that doctor are entirely his or her responsibility.
Oh, sorry. It seems there's no guarentees...
-Wes
1 comment:
The "Best Doctor" lists are a problem. Local magazines use them to increase sales and the commercial lists are not vetted except by other people on the lists. The lists are heavily weighted toward academic physicians, some of whom are great and some of whom are not.
I guess even the "Best Doctor" folks know there are problems with the quality of their list, otherwise the disclaimer would not be necessary.
Thanks for a great post!
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