I think there needs to be a medical forum, just like there's technology, finance, and fashion. Just this week, I started two threads related to medicine (about calcium pills and the dentist), and I didn't know where to put them. I understand there might be a concern to have such a forum, because people might take advice given therein too seriously. But I think that's a danger in any internet forum about anything, so I think if there's a disclaimer, you're safe.

Does anyone else see a need for this?

No, I don't think this is a good idea at all.

Why not? It makes things more organized and gives people where to reference. You have my vote.

do we really need a new forum for two threads? i'm not seeing the need.

Once there is a forum, there will probably be more threads. Some of the pregnancy/surgery/pre-med studies threads can go there too.

Those were my two threads in one week. I'm sure if I would be an H.com researcher, I can find many many more threads that would fit the category.

But let's see what the people think.

We have too many pregnancy threads as is. The only ones who want to see more is some of the female members (and Melech).

Medical & health sounds interesting to me

The "I'm so stressed out"/Anxiety-Depression threads can go here too. Or the ones "I'm nauseous and my stomach hurts", "I have a fever of 103.5", "I broke my hand playing basketball" etc. can also go there. As NRH said...there are plenty of threads already started that fit under Medical/Health.

Internet discussion boards are the last places a person should be going for medical advice. I don't think the website or its administrators should go anywhere near this. Making a forum gives the perception (even if unjustified) that the comments and advice given therein is valid or endorsed by the website.

And only very ignorant and/or retarded people post those questions on message boards. Intelligent people GO TO THE DOCTOR instead of asking random anonymous people what to do. I don't think the website administrators should do anything to encourage or facilitate stupid people from acting stupidly.

Internet discussion boards are the last places a person should be going to for any advice - spiritual as well. I am sure there is a general disclaimer on this board and it can be made deeper.

I got my posting privileges removed for asking too many medical questions on a forum on another board ….

'Premed studies' belongs in the school and work section.


It is just as dangerous with halacha.

How is that any different than halachic opinions being stated on h.com?


Personally, I think a medical forum is an excellent idea and I vote yea




[sorry, notreallyhere, since my vote in favor is probably the kiss of death for it].

I suppose this is where a bunch of people are supposed to jump in and say things like, "No it won't!! I feel the same way!"

Fashion and Style/Health and Fitness, why not? It could be much more than a medical thread. How many countless diet threads (and the like) have we had?

Finally, somewhere to post my ED questions!

i thought that's what the GQ was for

That's where I post my VD questions.

All the posters in GQ are tired of his ED threads.

A person can cite a halachah with the source and you more or less have an accurate answer. If someone has a fever of 103F then they need to call a doctor or go the hospital, not post about it and wait for answers.

Please, please do not turn this site into imamother.com. They are full of people asking whether or not the 3rd ear growing out of their forehead is a cause for concern or if it is a normal symptom of a woman in her 14th pregnancy. Let's not get bogged down in that nonsense.

The women have a place for gross pregnancy questions as it is. If someone has a question that it intellectual in nature and bears discussion then put it in the "Advice" forum.

Aren't you over-acting a bit? Isnt' that what the "private elitist forums" are for?

A health/fitness forum would be great and serve a good purpose. We've had TONS of threads which would fit into that category nicely.

Interesting points.

The pregnancy questions will likely remain in AC. This forum would not be for medical advice, and it would be more like what Ahavati called it: "health and fitness." Like the two threads I mentioned, they were not about something I would ask a doctor, they were things I wanted others' personal opinions on. Remember FYI's ten pounds thread? Sure, she could be going to a nutritionist, but she isn't.

Of course you're going to have some stupid threads, like you do in every section of this site. You probably consider some of my threads stupid. But for the most part, if h.com hasn't turned into imamother.com by now, this isn't going to do it.

There is already a place for serious questions and advice. If you make a separate forum you're just asking for the dumb questions.

Yes, but a health and fitness forum would provide a specific place to go, just like fashion and style. And come on, there are already stupid questions being asked. At least this forum might isolate some...

Yeah! I agree, I'd love a medical forum.

I thought the dentist question was iffy. The calcium pills are a very important health issue. That was a good question.

Seriously, how many countless threads about weight-lifting, diets, exercise, vitamins, etc. etc. etc. have we had (and will continue to have)? The forumaltion of a Health and Fitness or Medical and Health or whatever forum would isolate these threads.

For health and fitness que., you can easily go to other boards. We don’t need that here.

Some of us only frequent one board, and would like the opinions and comments of members we "know" and respect.

You mean you don't need it here. Others feel they do and aren't as active on other boards. Others are still single and not on imamother.com, for example.

You must be joking. Dry humor intended.

I don't count on imamother for health, medical, or exercise advice. There are many many boards online for those sort of things.

www.worldfitness.com

for example, as an exercise board that's very good.

Please. We don't need a finance forum. We don't need a technoforum. We don't need a medical forum. There are other boards out there that are devoted to that kind of stuff.

I agree. Furthermore, people aren't necessarily asking for advice, they may just want to discuss a certain medical issue. Or a person might want to find a doctor that specializes in something specific and would like to know if someone on the board can recommend someone. It's always helpful to get advice from people that have been in a similar situation.

maybe health & fitness, but not medical for all the reasons stated above that people might take it the wrong way.

for example, psychodad mentions he has a broken toe. someone then suggests that in order to fix it, he needs to re-break it and let it set correctly. so psychodad drops a frying pan on his foot and then posts that his foot hurts even more. so the person posts that it's not his fault that psychodad didn't go to a doctor, which was the seemingly obvious hidden message, and that now it's his problem.

Health forum sounds great!

Well they can also go to other boards for fashion and style, money and finance and technology as well as cooking and recipes. But, they don't have to, do they?



That was my thinking but I didn't want to be dissentive...



Networking is essential.

What?! No Health & Fitness forum yet?!

I guess the Mods are not convinced ...

I think a health forum is a great idea.

Patience...we have to wait for Silent J to finish his paternity leave.

Silent J, what do you think? Can we have a Health & Fitness (or something similar) forum? Most of the people seemed to think it was a good idea, including a moderator or two.