List format and slander

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I have received numerous private emails concerning a potentially

slanderous email sent by a list member concerning a surgeon. First let me

address slander on this list.

It will not be allowed! Simple. You can post your opinions about a surgeon

(e.g. Dr. Doe wasn't very nice with me and I think I should have gone

somewhere else) but cannot slander a surgeon or anyone else for that

matter. Here is a definition of slander that will help clarify whether you

are " crossing that line " (you guys are putting my law school education to

work!)

Slander is...

You write something about a person that accuses that person of committing

a crime or some other act that will seriously hurt their reputation. Or

any other act that might injure that person in his/her trade, business,

office or occupation (paraphrased from Munafo v. Helfand also see

Restatement 2nd, Torts section 570 for more complete definition).

I do not care how angry or how potentially offensive the person actually

was with you, you, as list members, will not be allowed to slander anyone

on the list.

Now to the other issue. The moderators were handling this slander issue in

private as I have often begged people to do. But because people were not

seeing the response in the public forum, many felt compelled to accuse the

moderators of not " doing their job " . Please don't jump the gun by

attacking someone before you know what is going on. You are more than

welcome to ask if the situation is being handled but don't automatically

assume that since you haven't seen a public beheading on the list, the

situation is not handled.

As always, everyone play nice and if you have an issue with this email,

please email me in private.

Much love, R