Many of you have noticed 21 rather lengthy comments by reader "mnoqocua", most espousing the virtue of not seeking the surgical revision of urethral strictures. I left the commentary intact because it included multiple references to popular websites, and those publications were based on recognized medical and scientific principles. I also declined comment on those commentary postings which took place over a very short time period in March of this year.
For nearly six months I mistakenly thought that they provided some useful information, and were, for the most part harmless. Yesterday however, I received an email from a "novice" stricture patient who read "mnoqocua's" comments, and was considering the option of not returning to his urologist for a recommended followup urethrotomy, which the urologist believes to be necessary because of an estimated 3mm diameter x 3.4cm obstructive stricture.
To have followed the advice proposed by "mnoqocua" could have been disastrous in this case, it is for that reason that I have chosen to delete his comments in their entirety, all 21 of them.
As stated in the introduction to this site, we do not provide medical advice, we are not physicians; although we have two physicians who advise us on content, our goal is to provide information as to the options available to those suffering urethral stricture disease, PERIOD, OPTIONS - THAT'S ALL!!
I could have chosen to remove a majority of them earlier, but decided to leave them intact because I am a firm believer in allowing the opinions of all to be heard unless they are totally irrational and without reason, and these were not.
"Mnoqocua" appears to have had an axe to grind with regards to "invasive interventive urethral surgery options" because of what appears to be an alleged misjudgement of, or alleged mishandling of his situation by a urologist who was perhaps unfamiliar with urethral strictures and their management. As before, "Board Certified Urologist" does not necessarily mean that the physician is an expert in urethral surgery, or for that matter evaluation and management of strictures both complex and of lesser severity in nature.
To have advocated that persons with urethral stricture disease "leave it alone" would be dangerous; espousing that viewpoint could in-fact be disasterous for obvious reasoning. This person even contradicted my reasoning for a humorous post referencing the Fox Network's "King of the Hill", and the principal character's (Hank Hill) "Narrow Urethra".
All posts which include personal viewpoints are referred to an attorney for legal "exposure" analysis, and to a physician, for evaluation of their efficacy and basis in fact. We have that obligation to our readers, and to the urologists and publications who refer their patients and clients to this site.
As always, PLEASE continue to email your questions, and should you feel the need to offer constructive criticism, opinion, or verifiable information, please post them. If deemed to be informative, and worthy of inclusion, they will become part of this site's informative database.
From this point forward, all comments will be moderated, PERIOD. This goes against every grain of my being, however, it is sadly necessary. My apologies, and please continue to post commentary and send email with your questions....
Per: Moderator Tim
