American College of Physicians and Federation of StateMedical Boards encourage doctors to always 'pause before posting'and not 'friend' patients in new policy paper
April 11, 2013 -- The creation and use of information online andthe widespread use of the Internet offer exciting new opportunitiesfor patient care, but also require physicians to consider how tobest protect patient interests and apply principles ofprofessionalism to online settings, the American College ofPhysicians (ACP) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)said today in a newly released policy paper, "Online MedicalProfessionalism: Patient and Public Relationships."
"Digital communications and social media use continue toincrease in popularity among the public and the medicalprofession," said Phyllis Guze, MD, FACP, chair, Board of Regents,ACP. "This policy paper provides needed guidance on best practicesto inform standards for the professional conduct of physiciansonline."
Published online today at www.acponline.org andwww.annals.org and in the April16 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, the paperexamines and provides recommendations regarding the influence ofsocial media on the patient-physician relationship. It alsoaddresses the role of online media and public perception ofphysician behaviors and strategies for patient-physiciancommunications that preserve confidentiality while best utilizingnew technologies.
"It is important for physicians to be aware of the implicationsfor confidentiality and how the use of online media fornon-clinical purposes impacts trust in the medical profession,"said Humayun Chaudhry, DO, MS, FACP, president and CEO, FSMB.
Notable recommendations from ACP and FSMB include:
- Physicians should keep their professional and personal personasseparate. Physicians should not "friend" or contact patientsthrough personal social media.
- Physicians should not use text messaging for medicalinteractions even with an established patient except with extremecaution and consent by the patient.
- E-mail or other electronic communications should only be usedby physicians within an established patient-physician relationshipand with patient consent.
- Situations in which a physician is approached throughelectronic means for clinical advice in the absence of apatient-physician relationship should be handled with judgment andusually should be addressed with encouragement that the individualschedule an office visit or, in the case of an urgent matter, go tothe nearest emergency department.
- Establishing a professional profile so that it "appears" firstduring a search, instead of a physician ranking site, can providesome measure of control that the information read by patients priorto the initial encounter or thereafter is accurate.
- Many trainees may inadvertently harm their future careers bynot responsibly posting material or actively policing their onlinecontent. Educational programs stressing a pro-active approach todigital image (online reputation) are good forums to introducethese potential repercussions.
The paper includes a chart of online activities, potentialbenefits and dangers, and recommended safeguards for physicianbehavior.
For example, communicating with patients using e-mail offers thepotential benefits of great accessibility and immediacy of answersto non-urgent issues. The potential dangers are confidentialityconcerns, replacement of face-to-face or phone interaction, andambiguity or misinterpretation of digital interactions. Thesafeguards include reserving digital communications for patientsthat maintain face-to-face follow-up only.
The paper was authored by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism andHuman Rights Committee; ACP's Council of Associates; and FSMB'sCommittee on Ethics and Professionalism.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largestmedical specialty organization and the second-largest physiciangroup in the United States. ACP members include 133,000 internalmedicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, andmedical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists whoapply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis,treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrumfrom health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Federation of State MedicalBoards
The FSMB is a national non-profit organization representing allmedical boards within the United States and its territories thatlicense and discipline allopathic and osteopathic physicians and,in some jurisdictions, other health care professionals. It assiststhese state and territorial medical boards as they go about theirmandate of protecting the public's health, safety and welfare. TheFSMB leads by promoting excellence in medical practice, licensureand regulation. For more information, please visit www.fsmb.org.
FAQs
Physicians should keep their professional and personal personas separate. Physicians should not "friend" or contact patients through personal social media. Physicians should not use text messaging for medical interactions even with an established patient except with extreme caution and consent by the patient.
Can doctors give medical advice on social media? ›
. Answering a friend's health question may seem innocuous, but it's best to avoid giving out any clinical advice online so as not to inadvertently establish a provid- er-patient relationship or engage in the improper practice of medi- cine.
What are the ethical guidelines for physicians? ›
Physicians should observe all laws, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and accept its self-imposed disciplines. They should expose, without hesitation, illegal or unethical conduct of fellow members of the profession.
What is the AMA policy about physician use of social media? ›
Physicians should be cognizant of standards of patient privacy and confidentiality that must be maintained in all environments, including online, and must refrain from posting identifiable patient information online.
How does social media affect medical ethics? ›
The use of social media networks by medical professionals and its associated ethical dilemmas necessitates its regulation. Social media use by healthcare professionals can have implications on the doctor-patient relationship, public trust in the profession as well as possible litigation.
Can doctors give medical advice on Facebook? ›
Do not offer clinical advice on Facebook under any circ*mstance, always instruct a former, current or future patient to contact you or the proper medical professional to schedule a consultation appointment.
Can doctors be friends with patients on social media? ›
Article advocates not “friending” patients, face-to-face interactions when social media activity becomes concerning/questionable, and considers the role of dual citizenship – separate professional and personal profiles.
What are the 7 codes of ethics in healthcare? ›
This approach – focusing on the application of seven mid-level principles to cases (non-maleficence, beneficence, health maximisation, efficiency, respect for autonomy, justice, proportionality) – is presented in this paper.
What ethical principles are basic to the patient physician relationship? ›
The essential ingredients of a good doctor-patient relationship are communication, respect, confidentiality, professional honesty and trust. Effective communication has always been important in doctor-patient relationship.
What are the 3 C's of medical ethics? ›
Besides the four pillars of medical ethics, the three C's (confidentiality, consent, capacity) are a must-know foundation for many common medical school interview scenarios.
The relationship between a patient and a physician is based on trust, which gives rise to physicians' ethical responsibility to place patients' welfare above the physician's own self-interest or obligations to others, to use sound medical judgment on patients' behalf, and to advocate for their patients' welfare.
What does the AMA code of ethics do? ›
The American Medical Association was founded in part to establish the world's first national code of medical ethics. The Code is widely recognized as the most comprehensive ethics guide for physicians. Opinions in the Code address issues and challenges confronting the medical profession and represent AMA policy.
Which is an example of an ethical principle that physicians must follow according to the AMA? ›
A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
How can ethics affect your healthcare career? ›
Healthcare providers prioritize patient well-being, which can sometimes mean respecting patients' wishes they may disagree with. Healthcare professionals dedicated to upholding ethical decision-making to improve patient outcomes can consider an advanced degree to help guide their career journey.
Are there any ethical considerations in using social media as a professional nurse? ›
The following guidelines are intended to minimize the risks of using social media: Nurses must recognize that they have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality at all times. Nurses are strictly prohibited from transmitting by way of any electronic media any patient-related image.
Why medical ethics are still important? ›
Medical ethics encompass the obligations health care professionals have to ensure patients' overall well-being and to respect their fundamental human rights. Medical ethics applies to every healthcare provider and is a dynamic concept that varies among different societies, religious groups, and cultures.
Does HIPAA apply to social media? ›
HIPAA does not explicitly say anything about social media. That's because the standards were created before social media platforms existed. However, social media is subject to the Privacy Rule. The standards on disclosures of protected health information are particularly relevant.
Can nurses give medical advice on social media? ›
HIPAA privacy regulations require health care providers to protect patient confidentiality and health data. In terms of social media, that means nurses cannot post protected health information (PHI).
How 4 key rights could be violated by the abuse of social media? ›
Final answer:
Social media abuse can violate rights such as freedom of speech, privacy, equality, and the right to life.
What are the rules for using social media as a healthcare professional? ›
DON'T post misleading, offensive or inappropriate content. Whether it is images, language, or opinions, ensure that your content aligns with professional healthcare standards. Check facts before sharing content to avoid spreading misleading or inaccurate information, and be clear about your sources.
