| A couple of months ago, I attended a social media | | | | - Tele-conference access to learn more strategies |
| breakfast and the topic was blogging. There was a | | | | The doctor probably has the knowledge contained in |
| panel of experts answering questions from the | | | | the book. I sure hope they would read it to make sure! |
| attendees. One question that came up is, "what is your | | | | But they are claiming to be the author when they didn't |
| opinion of ghost writing?" | | | | write the book. They are using the book (and the fact |
| While one of the experts doesn't love letting other | | | | that they supposedly took the time, in addition to |
| people take credit for her work, she does earn some | | | | running their practice, to write the book) to impress |
| money by ghost writing. Another expert was dead-set | | | | people with their extensive knowledge and dedication. |
| against it. I was on the fence at the time, but leaning | | | | Why just go to any chiropractor when you could go to |
| toward not liking the idea. I feel that if someone has | | | | someone who wrote a book? |
| the raw knowledge for a piece but has no writing | | | | I think what bothers me most is that many doctors |
| ability, I might write for them, but I think I would still want | | | | may be represented as the author of the very same |
| my name listed somewhere. If they don't even have | | | | book (they did not say it would be a different book for |
| the knowledge and want me to make them appear to | | | | each.) It is not as bad as stealing content of course; at |
| be an expert, I would not do it. | | | | least they are paying for it. |
| Today, something came across the fax machine at | | | | If I found out that my doctor was claiming to write a |
| my chiropractor's office that made me reflect on this | | | | book that he didn't actually write, regardless of |
| again. A company is selling a system for getting more | | | | whether he has the knowledge to write it, I would |
| patients. They are restricting this to one doctor per | | | | definitely think of him as an imposter. In fact it would |
| "area." They have a book that someone wrote on | | | | make me wonder what else he is lying about? Since I |
| chiropractic care. When a doctor buys their system, | | | | have written a book, in addition to many articles and |
| they customize a copy of the book to make it appear | | | | blog posts, I appreciate the work that goes into this |
| that this doctor wrote it. The doctor's name is listed as | | | | process. I don't think the "expert author" status should |
| the author and their picture goes on the cover. The | | | | be conveyed on someone who never wrote anything! |
| doctor gets: | | | | I know the people who administer the site to which I |
| - Several hundred hard copies of the book | | | | submit my articles take the issue of authenticity very |
| - Listed on amazon to sell the book there | | | | seriously, and they do not convey the "expert" title to |
| - A website to promote the book (as their own) and | | | | everyone. I feel that writing ability is a gift, and I don't |
| their practice | | | | believe in claiming you have a gift if you don't have it |
| - An online press release campaign | | | | or are not willing to spend the time to express it. |
| - Artwork for the reception area and a poster to use | | | | What do you think? Do you consider this type of |
| at health fairs, promoting the doctor as an author | | | | system to be ethical? How would you feel if your |
| - A postcard system promoting the "prestigious author | | | | doctor or other professional service provider bought |
| status" to reactivate patients and create referrals | | | | into a system like this? I'm just curious! |