Hi,
I am hearing that in some countries, for example, UK, testimonials on
a website could cause trouble. How does that work? People publish
there own opinions and experiences all the time.
Best,
Ellen
use of testimonials on website
Re: use of testimonials on website
I'm in the UK and have not heard about that. I don't have testimonials on my website ( but links to a couple of cases published on other websites) but have friends that do.
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk
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Liz Brynin
- Posts: 644
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:00 pm
Re: use of testimonials on website
I think that with testimonials, you have to be able to say that they are 100% true, and also be able to prove it by showing the case notes (with patient's permission, I imagine) if challenged.
Here in the UK, homeopaths are being challenged over this very thing, at the moment (we have had a reminder about our websites from my professional organisation recently). We have a very nasty independent organisation, called the Advertising Standards Authority, which hates anything alternative, and, in the current anti-homeopathy climate, is only too happy to respond to any complaints about websites and advertising of homeopathy. And people are currently trawling through homeopaths' websites, looking for claims and statements they can object to. Like offering to cure anything - you mustn't! You can only 'help' etc. And any claims about cancer or AIDS are a 'no-no'.
So if you're going to use testimonials, they have to be squeaky clean!
Liz
Here in the UK, homeopaths are being challenged over this very thing, at the moment (we have had a reminder about our websites from my professional organisation recently). We have a very nasty independent organisation, called the Advertising Standards Authority, which hates anything alternative, and, in the current anti-homeopathy climate, is only too happy to respond to any complaints about websites and advertising of homeopathy. And people are currently trawling through homeopaths' websites, looking for claims and statements they can object to. Like offering to cure anything - you mustn't! You can only 'help' etc. And any claims about cancer or AIDS are a 'no-no'.
So if you're going to use testimonials, they have to be squeaky clean!
Liz
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Ellen Madono
- Posts: 2012
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:00 pm
Re: use of testimonials on website
Hi Liz,
Thanks for the warning. My sympathy is with you. I have been very
envious of the Brits with the royal family backing homeopathy and so
many homeopaths that you drive your own prices down. It sounded like
paradise. Guess there are good times and bad times.
Few Japanese have heard of homeopathy. So we are not the enemy yet.
They are very bureaucratic about licensing Chinese medicine doctors
and chiropractors. MDs commonly hand out Chinese herbs so as in their
religious practices, merging traditions comes easy.
Concerning my site:
The testimonials are written by old patients and students. Also,
their name is at the bottom of the testimonial. I don't want them to
write anything too revealing about themselves or about cases which I
did with students. Other than their name, I don't want their identity
and the reality of their case on public display. People do talk about
their symptoms. They don't write about themselves in the way that I
describe them in my notes. To some, I gave summaries of their cases
since they could not remember anything. (normal cured patient memory)
so they are a bit clearer. I am after writing that is plausible but
vague.
I am writing sample cases as well, but these too lack detail. The
idea is to show readers how cases unfold, give them an idea of some
typical healing processes. It is not to prove that homeopathy heals
anything in particular, although if a particular disease category is
named, it implies that that that the symptoms went away. I will check
on the wording. I would think I can use the disease category such as
tinnitus. Tinnitus is such a catch all category it does not mean much
as a disease, but the public does not know that. I have to use a word
that they know. Dizzy, nausea and ringing in the ears would be
confusing to the public. Instead of cured or healed, I will say the
symptoms disappeared and did not reappear over time.
About serious disease this is the position I am taking: " I do my best
to avoid clients who have rapidly changing medical conditions. This
kind of homeopathic care requires cooperation with medical doctors and
in serious cases, homeopathic hospitals. These services are not
available in Japan at this time. If you do not know that you have a
rapidly changing condition, you cannot tell me, but also, I cannot
take responsibility for rapid changes in your condition. Please do
your best to have your condition diagnosed by a doctor."
I was preparing to put the above statement in my welcome letter. It
doesn't sound very welcoming. It goes with the disclaimer that
"legally, homeopathy is not medical treatment." Should I wait until I
see them for the first interview to give them this bottom line
statement? Maybe I should put this statement on my website but leave
it out of my welcome letter. The website is after all the more public
representation.
I have heard that the politically incorrect word in Japan is therapy.
I am just going to try to stay away from the normal list of no no
words.
During the initial interview, I plan to have the patient sign that
they have read these disclaimers concerning medicine. Timing is
important. I don't want to spend a lot of the time for the interview
going over these medical issues.
What do you think?
Best,
Ellen
Thanks for the warning. My sympathy is with you. I have been very
envious of the Brits with the royal family backing homeopathy and so
many homeopaths that you drive your own prices down. It sounded like
paradise. Guess there are good times and bad times.
Few Japanese have heard of homeopathy. So we are not the enemy yet.
They are very bureaucratic about licensing Chinese medicine doctors
and chiropractors. MDs commonly hand out Chinese herbs so as in their
religious practices, merging traditions comes easy.
Concerning my site:
The testimonials are written by old patients and students. Also,
their name is at the bottom of the testimonial. I don't want them to
write anything too revealing about themselves or about cases which I
did with students. Other than their name, I don't want their identity
and the reality of their case on public display. People do talk about
their symptoms. They don't write about themselves in the way that I
describe them in my notes. To some, I gave summaries of their cases
since they could not remember anything. (normal cured patient memory)
so they are a bit clearer. I am after writing that is plausible but
vague.
I am writing sample cases as well, but these too lack detail. The
idea is to show readers how cases unfold, give them an idea of some
typical healing processes. It is not to prove that homeopathy heals
anything in particular, although if a particular disease category is
named, it implies that that that the symptoms went away. I will check
on the wording. I would think I can use the disease category such as
tinnitus. Tinnitus is such a catch all category it does not mean much
as a disease, but the public does not know that. I have to use a word
that they know. Dizzy, nausea and ringing in the ears would be
confusing to the public. Instead of cured or healed, I will say the
symptoms disappeared and did not reappear over time.
About serious disease this is the position I am taking: " I do my best
to avoid clients who have rapidly changing medical conditions. This
kind of homeopathic care requires cooperation with medical doctors and
in serious cases, homeopathic hospitals. These services are not
available in Japan at this time. If you do not know that you have a
rapidly changing condition, you cannot tell me, but also, I cannot
take responsibility for rapid changes in your condition. Please do
your best to have your condition diagnosed by a doctor."
I was preparing to put the above statement in my welcome letter. It
doesn't sound very welcoming. It goes with the disclaimer that
"legally, homeopathy is not medical treatment." Should I wait until I
see them for the first interview to give them this bottom line
statement? Maybe I should put this statement on my website but leave
it out of my welcome letter. The website is after all the more public
representation.
I have heard that the politically incorrect word in Japan is therapy.
I am just going to try to stay away from the normal list of no no
words.
During the initial interview, I plan to have the patient sign that
they have read these disclaimers concerning medicine. Timing is
important. I don't want to spend a lot of the time for the interview
going over these medical issues.
What do you think?
Best,
Ellen
-
Liz Brynin
- Posts: 644
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:00 pm
Re: use of testimonials on website
Hi Ellen
It all sounds very different to Europe, but not surprising - I work for a large chain of language sshools (GEOS) which are Japanese, so we have a lot of Japanese students and managers and over the years I have learnt quite a lot about their character.
My suggestion to you is that you find someone Japanese who is sympathetic to you and your aims, and you discuss with them what would be appropriate in your situation. The cultural differences are so huge that anything I say would be meaningless, whereas they would be able to tell you what sounds good and what doesn't.
One option that you might consider is to send out patient literature beforehand, so that they can read it and absorb it before they come. I always ask my patients to fill in a patient questionnaire, and take this opportunity to get them to detail their family medical history as well as their own medical history and drugs/supplements being taken. It saves time at the appointment. You could usefully add in your points as well, and ask them to bring it back to you signed. And have a separate sheet with the welcome letter on it, asking them to read the accompanying literature carefully and fill in the details. That way you can be friendly at first, but then move on to more serious matters afterwards.
Hope this makes sense!
Liz
It all sounds very different to Europe, but not surprising - I work for a large chain of language sshools (GEOS) which are Japanese, so we have a lot of Japanese students and managers and over the years I have learnt quite a lot about their character.
My suggestion to you is that you find someone Japanese who is sympathetic to you and your aims, and you discuss with them what would be appropriate in your situation. The cultural differences are so huge that anything I say would be meaningless, whereas they would be able to tell you what sounds good and what doesn't.
One option that you might consider is to send out patient literature beforehand, so that they can read it and absorb it before they come. I always ask my patients to fill in a patient questionnaire, and take this opportunity to get them to detail their family medical history as well as their own medical history and drugs/supplements being taken. It saves time at the appointment. You could usefully add in your points as well, and ask them to bring it back to you signed. And have a separate sheet with the welcome letter on it, asking them to read the accompanying literature carefully and fill in the details. That way you can be friendly at first, but then move on to more serious matters afterwards.
Hope this makes sense!
Liz