Professionalism and Social Media

A colleague from the hospital has invited you to join a special Facebook group for doctors as they have found it a useful source of information. The group provides a forum in which individuals can ask the other members questions about difficult cases or can write about their experiences with interesting patients. Although you think that you would find the group very beneficial you raise some concerns with your colleague about the safety of discussing cases with strangers over the Internet. You decide to see if there is any ethical guidance about using Internet forums as a doctor.

• Can you think of any benefits of using social media to discuss cases?
• Can you think of any dangers that using social media sites may present – either on a professional or personal level?
• What guidance has the GMC and BMA issued about this subject?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Source – Ethics Case Studies from Clinical Ethics and Law (Second Edition), Carolyn Johnston Penelope Bradbury