Friday, November 20, 2009

Paging Dr. Facebook

Nathalie Blanchard is on medical leave after being diagnosed with major depression. She is collecting monthly sick leave benefits from Manulife. This was not a problem until she decided to take a trip and post some pics on Facebook.
When Blanchard called Manulife, the company said that "I'm available to work, because of Facebook," she told CBC News this week.

She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on the popular social networking site, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday — evidence that she is no longer depressed, Manulife said.

When my wife is depressed, a trip to Chippendales always cheers her up. Apparently Manulife views it differently.
Blanchard said that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems.

She also doesn’t understand how Manulife accessed her photos because her Facebook profile is locked and only people she approves can look at what she posts.

Apparently Canadian insurance companies can be as dastardly as U.S. based ones.
Her lawyer Tom Lavin said Manulife's investigation was inappropriate.

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

Well of course not.

If Facebook can diagnose psych issues then why do we need real docs? Paging Dr. Facebook . . .
blog comments powered by Disqus