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CyberCafe - 15 Apr 2004 00:02 GMT

Can I get your opinions and suggestions on this? The following message,
copied in full, was in another newsgroup, and it and the responses to it
kind of upset me.

Barb
------------------------

"Subject: Reference for disability?
Date: 14 Apr 2004 14:58:19 GMT
Newsgroups: sci.med.transcription

I have a subcontractor who asked me to say that her memory is slipping
and
showing in her work should I be contacted by whomever may contact me
regarding
the disability papers she filed.

Now, her memory isn't what it used to be, but it isn't affecting her
work
to
THAT degree in my opinion. At any rate, I don't mind helping her out. I
just
worry that just by her having someone contact me for information like
that
could set the DOL on my tail. The clients aren't complaining about her
work
either. Should I tell her that nobody SHOULD contact me regarding this
issue or
is it okay? I don't know anything about disability, other than it is
extremely
hard to get.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. "

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David Ruether - 15 Apr 2004 00:10 GMT

> Can I get your opinions and suggestions on this? The following message,
> copied in full, was in another newsgroup, and it and the responses to it
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. "

This one is kinda easy, for once...;-)
The poster should tell the contractor that if anyone contacts
him about this, that he will tell the truth as he sees it, namely that
[fill in here his honest opinion]. To do otherwise is inappropriate,
unethical, and possibly illegal...
--
DR

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Dona - 15 Apr 2004 02:28 GMT

I understood that the OP felt that she was being asked to fudge a bit on the
MT's level of disability.

Everyone agreed that she should tell the truth and to be asked to do
otherwise was wrong.

I don't think many at SMT realize exactly how tricky memory and language
skills can be to hold on to at times, and how scary it is if they start to
slip. You're assuming the best about the subcontractor and other's assumed
the worst, but that's not predjudical, that's a personality trait. :) I do
think that, irregardless of the circumstances, the subcontractor asking the
OP to lie for her was unethical at best.

My 2 cents. :)

Montyna

Reply to this Message

CyberCafe - 15 Apr 2004 11:02 GMT

> I understood that the OP felt that she was being asked to fudge a bit on the
> MT's level of disability.

That was my first impression too, but after thinking about it, I wasn't so sure
because of a couple of comments the writer made later. There is also the
possibility the subcontractor didn't want to reveal all because it could
jeopardize her job.

> Everyone agreed that she should tell the truth and to be asked to do
> otherwise was wrong.

Yes, I think we all agree on that point..

> I don't think many at SMT realize exactly how tricky memory and language
> skills can be to hold on to at times, and how scary it is if they start to
> slip. .

> You're assuming the best about the subcontractor and other's assumed
> the worst, but that's not predjudical, that's a personality trait. :)

Very true, but the comments came from people working in the allied health field,
and the lack of understanding and respect in some of the responses kind of
annoyed me.

> I do
> think that, irregardless of the circumstances, the subcontractor asking the
> OP to lie for her was unethical at best.

At first I also thought the subcontractor was dishonest, but later I began to
have doubts about this from a few comments that were added. The OP initially
admitted to having noticed a few slip-ups, but that she didn't think it was THAT
bad. The OP did respond later that the subcontractor said it was taking twice
as long to do her work with more effort involved.

It was an interesting discussion on SMT. I've included some of the response
comments (at the bottom) that seemed to annoy me more than the other comments.
I'd like to know what other folks here think about some of these responses.

Also, a few people commented on the doubtfulness of this gal even being
eligible for disability, which is something none of us at SMT knows for
certain. I think comments like that could influence a person too much (in this
case the 'boss.'). I mean, if I received similar comments, I probably would
think 'why bother' or 'it's not that important because she's not going to get it
anyway.'

I'm still ticked at some of the comments, and I guess I've been ranting and
raging in this message when it should have been directed to SMT.

Barb

THE COMMENTS START HERE

Her request to you seems a bit
self-serving, IMO, and I'd keep my eyes open. Is she trying to create
a disability where perhaps none exists?

Shoot if "memory slipping" was a valid disability
claim, I'd of been "disabled" years ago.

I would personally think that you would have to have Alzheimer's or something
to get disability based on memory loss, that or maybe amnesia...

After you have received approval for disability there is a
program, I forget what it is called (oops there goes my failing memory
<G>)

> My 2 cents. :)
>
> Montyna

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Julie - 15 Apr 2004 19:16 GMT

I see your point Dona, your first post added the comment from the boss "I don't
know anything about disability, other than it is extremely hard to get." This made
me wonder why he/she added this thought. Do they think that since disability
benefits are so hard to get that a problem with memory is too minor to be a part of
the disability?

The person who asked the boss to say that her memory was failing may truly believe
that the boss can see this as a problem and may have just been giving him a heads up
that this contact will be coming and this is the reason for the call.

Just my thoughts,
Julie

> > I understood that the OP felt that she was being asked to fudge a bit on the
> > MT's level of disability.
[quoted text clipped - 65 lines]
> >
> > Montyna

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