The Canadian Medical Association recently announced they are developing guidelines to help advise their members that are starting to use social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter:
[T]he CMA is currently developing guidelines for physicians on the professional use of social media… Last year, the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) issued an advisory on the use of Facebook and similar platforms. It states: “While physicians are aware that disclosing patient information in public places such as hallways and elevators may breach their duty to protect patient confidentiality and privacy, they may not realize similar discussions on social networking or professional websites can also constitute a breach.”
“The potential to improve dissemination of information with patients and colleagues is enormous,” wrote one [doctor], “but for the evaluation of individual patient cases, the medicolegal risks and liability issues seem equally enormous.”
It is important for physicians to keep issues of privacy in their mind when considering joining social media platforms, and last year, the American Medical Association released a social media policy for physicians.
One physician blogger, Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, offers some advice for doctors that are contacted by their patients on social media. His bottom line? “I don’t discuss patient problems in places where others can see.”
Though patient and privacy issues are at the forefront of many physician’s concern when thinking about joining social media, it is important for everyone to remember that social media is a great platform for networking, learning from others, and helping to share high-quality information with patients and other providers. It is the opinion of at least one physician that the potential benefits of social media greatly outweigh the potential risks:
In the end… my presence online is to support the spread of meaningful, trustworthy, evidence based (when available), actionable information and guidance to patients and consumers from around the world.
The eHealth Strategy Office has worked with various UBC experts to prepare a course in Social Media in Health and Medicine (SPPH581f) which will look at the practicalities and theories behind the use of social media in clinical and health settings.