Comment policy

Some rules of engagement

Thank you for checking out these guidelines for commenting on our website.

We invite all our readers to contribute to the comment stream as we want to encourage wide debate on our stories and the issues affecting general practice and the health sector.

Most articles on our website are behind a paywall. We do not moderate comments so when you hit the post button your comment appears online immediately. If you regret hitting the post button, contact our editorial team and we can fix that error.

We want our website to be a place where people feel safe to share their views even when they may not be popular. Imagine you're talking face to face with people and please bear in mind the following ground rules for commenting.

Real names

If you post a comment, you will be required to use your real name.
Pseudonyms and anonymous postings are not allowed.

If you have a comment to make and want to remain anonymous, you should email the editor (editor@nzdoctor.co.nz) or deputy editor (content@nzdoctor.co.nz)

The sensible stuff

•Make your case as vigorously as possible without being rude.
•Keep your comments on topic and of a reasonable length so others will read them.
•If you are feeling especially emotional about an issue, take a breather before posting.
•We will sometimes pop in and correct spelling and grammar if it gets a bit messy but, otherwise, your comment will appear as you have typed it. There is a preview button.

The sterner stuff

•Do not use swear words.
•Do not use language or make comments that can be considered
discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, nationality, disability, etc.
•Your comments must not contain defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or otherwise illegal material.
•Do not make personal attacks, insults or threats.
•If you have a business, please do not use the comment space to slip
in free advertising.

The consequences

•If comments breach our policy, we will delete the relevant comments and/or the entire comment stream attached to the article. It might not be
a single comment but the cumulative effect of comments that leads to action being taken.
•If commenters breach our policy, they will forfeit their right to comment for a period of time.

And to finish

We may take the opportunity to contact you directly if your comment raises issues we would like to follow up as part of the news-gathering process.

We may also publish your comment in the New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa newspaper.

If you spot activity you believe violates our guidelines, please let us know. Contact the deputy editor, content@nzdoctor.co.nz

Happy debating,

Barbara Fountain, Editor
editor@nzdoctor.co.nz