doctors targeted by negative online reviews sue Google Maps

Sixty Japanese doctors have launched a class-action lawsuit against Google Maps for ignoring the negative and cruel opinions they sometimes receive.

The doctors are seeking 1.4 million yen (8,500 euros) in damages from the American internet giant, which they hold responsible for failing to act to counter the criticism.

They sued him on Thursday, saying they were unable to respond to or refute the defamatory criticism because of their duty to respect patient confidentiality.

“People who post online reviews can say anything anonymously, even if it’s just slander or insults,” one of the doctors told reporters.

“It’s like I’m a punching bag,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the case before the Tokyo District Court would be the country’s first class-action lawsuit targeting the platform over negative online reviews.

“Despite the ease with which they are posted, it has become extremely difficult to remove the notices,” lawyer Yuichi Nakazawa told AFP.

“This can lead to doctors doing their jobs in constant fear of being exposed to terrible criticism,” he added.

The goal of many healthcare institutions is not patient satisfaction, but professional treatment of their illnesses, the complaint states.

“Clinics that give patients only a superficial diagnosis and prescribe drugs on demand would have no place from a medical point of view, but would be highly valued by patients,” we can read in this document.

If nothing changes, doctors “may be reluctant to take firm action and refuse unnecessary tests or drugs requested by patients,” Mr. Nakazawa warned.

Ultimately, it does society a disservice, he added.

The plaintiffs acknowledge that Google removes certain reviews on Maps based on its own criteria, which they consider opaque.

Google told AFP it was “working to reduce inaccurate and misleading content on Google Maps”.

“Through a combination of human operators and computers, we protect business profiles 24 hours a day and remove unfair reviews,” said the American giant.