In a recent Scrubbing up column on the BBC Health website, MDDUS medical adviser Dr Naeem Nazem looks at the serious ethical challenges facing doctors and the implications for the patient relationship when engaging through social media.
There are undoubted benefits as social media offers a platform for doctors to network effectively, share views and develop their own knowledge and expertise.For patients engaging with social media, it can educate and raise awareness by giving them greater access to healthcare information.
MDDUS figures reveal that between 2010 and 2012 advisers received over four times as many calls from doctors seeking guidance on the use of sites such as Facebook and Twitter, with indications suggesting this number will continue to rise this year.
“Patients interacting with their doctors on social media may inadvertently create an uncomfortable and awkward situation,” says Dr Nazem.
“It also risks blurring the boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship which could impact on the quality of care they receive.
“Doctors must keep their relationship with patients professional, or they risk becoming too close which can cloud their judgement and affect their objectivity and clinical decision-making.”
Read the full article on the BBC website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24850051
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