Can admin please clarify some forum rules for me?

Can I get some clarification on what is and is not appropriate on the PDSA discussion boards? My questions have to do with mixing discussion and business.

1) If I use a product or service that costs money but in which I have no commercial interest, can I mention it specifically? For example, if I use a certain medical alert bracelet can I provide a url where I bought it, or if I use a certain doctor can I provide name and contact information or if I use a certain vitamin, can I provide ordering information?

2) Do I need to disclose if I have a commercial interest in a product or service I recommend?

3) If I provide/offer a product or service that is not free that is for ITP patients and board participants can I mention it here? If I mention it do I need to be clear that it is something I get paid for?

Thank you for clarifying!
Erica

Erica:

I'll have to run this by Carolyn for official answers. My job is to monitor and edit inappropriate content. When it comes to issues such as the things you mentioned, I use my best judgment or refer to Carolyn for direction. Luckily, it doesn't come up often.

My best guess would be:

1. Yes, you could provide information about a product that you have no monetary interest in such as a med alert bracelet because providing that information would not be harmful to anyone in any way. Doctors have been mentioned here many times when people ask for referrals. I don't see the harm in that either, since providing that information would not result in a monetary gain for you. Sometimes word of mouth is the best source of information about doctors, but again, it's the presentation....no doctor bashing is allowed and that has never really occurred. As for Vitamins or supplements, they can be discussed but providing the ordering information should be exchanged privately and not on the Forum. We can't stop people from contacting each other on a private basis.

2. Yes, if you have a commercial interest in a product or service, you would need to disclose that and it could be considered advertising which would not be acceptable.

3. If you provide a product or service that is not free it should not be mentioned here as that is also advertising and is not permitted on the PDSA.

This is not an official position. I'll ask Carolyn to provide that. These are all touchy questions and require careful scrutiny since it's easy to cross the line.

Carolyn has accepted my answers as the official position of the PDSA.

Hi you two!

Hi yourself!

Back atcha

Ohhhh was that directed at me? I swear, I have no financial interest in Kelloggs in general or PopTarts specifically. :laugh:

Hah the poptart cure is so 2009

And I have no financial interest in the medical ID bracelet I wear [sometimes] that I got at:
stores.ebay.com/STEEL-BELLS-MEDICAL-ID-BRACELETS_W0QQssPageNameZl4QQtZkm
and mentioned in another thread.

I don't even have a financial interest in WinRho which I've only had to use once but have mentioned here. I'm retired, the only financial interest I have is trying to stay afloat.