Should doctors have a social media profile?
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BMJ
Should doctors have a social media profile?
Discuss what's in the BMJ and on bmj.com
The BMJ have published an article about professionalism and social media. It is a little bit suspicious of the use of social media for doctors, pointing to the various legal issues that could arise fr
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Cat:BMJForum:BMJDiscussion:93aae580-c1e3-4366-81a3-fca7fd6ac414
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Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 7/2/2012 9:08 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1436
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 17/5/2013 |
The BMJ have published an article about professionalism and social media. It is a little bit suspicious of the use of social media for doctors, pointing to the various legal issues that could arise from using social media. http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e440 It also mentions doc2doc! What sort of social media presence should doctors have? Is it ok to have just one Twitter or Facebook account which is both your professional and private or should they be kept separate or should doctors not bother with social media at all because of the risks to that could affect your career? |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 7/2/2012 1:06 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1345
First: 25/1/2009 Last: 16/5/2013 |
saying doctors should not be allowed any social media profile is akin to saying we cant have a social life! We cant keep in touch with friends and family and shouldn't be socialising. Perhaps we should tell our relatives not to put photos of us online too! I'm all for moderation and accept that certail actions may put the profession into disrepute but to suggest we should have no social media profile is rediculous |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 7/2/2012 2:43 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1177
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 16/5/2013 |
Hmmm. A while back, we clinical champions were asked whether we would prefer open, or closed forum discussions. We ummed and ahhed about it for a while, and then plumped for the open forum (I can neither confirm nor deny that iOS compatibility had anytyhing to do with the decision) to improve our audience capture. But does this mean we have to curb our enthusiasm? The Medical Registrar on FB - anyone can follow them, and read the most cynical of chat, which to doctors is amusing rhetoric, but to a lay person could be deeply concerning. Odysseus wrote in a thread recently that he writes differently in the closed forums (fora?) and I can see his point. I think ultimately if we write things that we can defend, don't stray into unprofessional behaviour, and keep it clean, there should be no issues. I use FB to communicate with my Triathlon club, cycling club, and share the odd photo with friends and family down in Englandshire. Where's the harm in that?
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 7/2/2012 10:22 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1345
First: 25/1/2009 Last: 16/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?: The Medical Registrar on FB - anyone can follow them, and read the most cynical of chat, which to doctors is amusing rhetoric, but to a lay person could be deeply concerning. Posted by DundeeChest I dont know if you follow other Facebook hospital characters. I'd be far more concerned about "the locum doctor" and sometimes the "CMT 1 doctor". The point is many of them say things that we long to say, but cant, and we can all relate to some of the comments. Perhaps doctors should also be banned from listening to items such as the "song for andrew landsley and pals" - as it means we're not towing the party line, and definatley barred from liking the amateur transplants Where will it end - I my have sold my soul to the NHS but my free time should belong to me! |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 7/2/2012 11:31 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 441
First: 11/5/2009 Last: 6/7/2012 |
I find the idea that doctors should not be free to say things which some people may find uncomfortable deeply troubling for two reasons. Firstly, it is an infringement on our rights as human beings to free speech. Secondly, it stifles discussion and debate about vitally important issues for society. If doctors are cynical with, or disgusted by, some practices then why shouldn't the general public be allowed to know that? Who is the censor of what ordinary, non-medical people are allowed to know? Who decides they are too 'sensitive' to hear certain things? Why was Cardiac Arrest, the cynical medical drama, allowed, but FB postings aren't?
Very, very patrician and very, very sinister. |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 8/2/2012 8:53 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1177
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 16/5/2013 |
I think the difference between cardiac arrest, and the medical registrar is the public's perception of fact and fiction. Cardiac Arrest was clearly a TV drama written with a clear insight into medical practice, but made intereting and exciting enough to feed a TV audience. The Medical Registrar makes clear that they (for they are many) are real registrars commenting on real life, giving real opinions on life in medicine today. I'm not saying it's wrong, not saying it shouldn't be allowed, and certainly not saying that there should be any censor on what we should be able to think or say. But. I have been on the receiveing end of enough angry patients and relatives telling me that they "know what you doctors are like" have seen x,y,z in the papers/news/internet and you're all the same. We're not all the same, clearly. I read The Medical Registrar's most recent post, and it often raises a smile, but I'm not him/her/them; they are not my voice, nor my opinion, yet sometimes we are tainted by the same brush. Whilst I'm here - I loved Cardiac Arrest, it came out whilst I was a medical student, and was the centre of dissection room discussion for many a week. I remember watching it on my black and white TV in my room with a host of medical students who I only ever saw for that half hour a week, as I was the only person with a TV! I watched it again recently, and it stands up very well, particularly the story line surrounding the PRHO and the chemotherapy. Worth a watch, if you've not seen it. |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 8/2/2012 10:50 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 441
First: 11/5/2009 Last: 6/7/2012 |
The point is that progress comes through grit in the oyster. George Bernard Shaw: "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. All progress, therefore, depends upon the unreasonable man." If the only expressions we will be allowed to express publicly about our profession are anodyne, for fear of upsetting people and challenging their fragile image of what doctors are and how they think, then what hope do we have of advancing any debate? And who decides what is sufficiently anodyne to be acceptable and what is too cynical and must be stamped on?
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 9/2/2012 12:13 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
To be honest I think with everything there is a fine line. |
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Re: Should doctors have a social media profile?
posted at 9/2/2012 8:22 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 958
First: 15/7/2011 Last: 15/5/2013 |
I agree with davebergie. Doctors, Lawyers, architects indeed any professional group can express themselves honestly about issues that concern them, or interesting questions they wish to put in a social media setting. The simple thing to remember is that anyone can read words attributed to you so only write something you are happy for people to quote as your words. That should not stifle discussion, it means articulating your point well. |
