MEDICOLEGAL FEAPRACTICAL PROBLEMSTURE
Frequently asked questions
Patients’ Association, said it
Tweeting while you
Common questions asked about social networking
was “totally unacceptable” work by junior doctors:
and a breach of patients’ Q I work as a junior doctor in urology in a large teaching
human rights. Tweeting or Facebooking hospital, I’ve been thinking of setting up a blog. What
In today’s accelerated your friends with amusing advice would you give?
society it can be difficult to stories about work may seem A Our advice would be to tread cautiously and to consider
keep what you do socially innocent at the time. But all the following pitfalls: breach of patient confidentiality;
behind closed doors. such anecdotes will often defamation; breach of contract (your trust or board
Everyone has mobile involve unusual symptoms or may not be happy with what you have to say). It would
phones, most of which other sensitive information, be sensible to obtain the permission of trust/board
have cameras, with links to or might involve potential or management and your educational supervisor before
popular social networking actual harm to patients. It is taking the matter forward. Don’t forget to ensure you
sites. Compromising images unsurprising that a patient adhere to GMC guidance, such as Good Medical Practice.
can be uploaded anywhere at learning that their experience
any time. This lack of controls was being shared online Q A former patient whom I saw when I was a medical
has created a situation where could suffer distress. student has approached me on Facebook - they want to
what was once private, is Another element of this is add me as a friend? What should I do?
increasingly becoming public. commenting on medications A Don’t accept. Social network sites are called so for
“When social networking and clinical practice while a reason. It is extremely important that you retain
you have to bear in mind working or after a shift. professional boundaries between yourself, your patients
all your professional GMC guidance states and former patients. The GMC has set down their advice
responsibilities, and write that a doctor cannot raise in this area which is available via the website –
as if you’re going to be unfounded fears about www.gmc-uk.org. Whether a patient approaches you in
identified. Even inappropriate medication or treatments.
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person, by text or online, it is always best to maintain a
pictures on Facebook could This equally applies to online clear boundary from the outset.
be subject to criticism,” says activities, such as blogs
Dr Godeseth. “Sites like or forum discussions.
Facebook, Twitter and Bebo Blurred boundaries The firm commented that
might appear very secure, ten years ago it would have
but your information may be Last year, Sophos, an taken a thief or con artist
accessed more widely than international security firm, weeks to get access to this
you realise.” conducted an experiment sort of detail, now many
to see how freely Facebook social networkers are handing
users shared their over their life story on a plate.
information.
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Just under half Dr Godeseth says:
of those surveyed blindly “For doctors, there is an
accepted fake friend requests additional risk of patients
created by the firm. This contacting you through
gave them access to dates social networking sites. In
of birth, email addresses, addition to allowing patients
schools they attended, access to your personal
information on family and details, these sites are
friends, and workplaces. generally inappropriate
for medical discussions.
You should certainly
avoid adding patients
as ‘friends’, or engaging
with them in this way.
“Doctors are expected to
maintain public confidence in
the profession. It is important
that all doctors consider this
when posting material online,
and are mindful of who could
be reading what they write.”
1 Reuters – http://uk.reuters.com 4 GMC, Good Medical Practice (2006) Pars 60-62
2 American Medical Association – www.ama-assn.org 5 Sophos - www.sophos.com
3 T he Times – www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
IQONCEPT/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
www.mps.org.uk NEW DOCTOR | VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 1 | 2010
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