Big rise in queries over social media
By a staff reporter
A defence body is advising doctors to only post information on private WhatsApp groups and other social messaging services that they would be happy to be made public.
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) issued the advice following new GMC guidance on doctors’ use of social media in its revamped Good Medical Practice.
For the first time, the guidance specifies that ‘when communicating privately using instant messaging services, messages or other communications in private groups may also become public’.
The GMC also makes it clear that it has ‘a legal duty to investigate any concerns raised to us that reach our fitness-to-practise threshold’.
As many as 300 healthcare professionals have been issued with advice from the MDU over social media queries in the past three years.
A third of these sought support to deal with a complaint following a social media posting.
The MDU also reports other cases where private communications have been considered in professional disciplinary proceedings.
According to Dr Catherine Wills, MDU deputy head of advisory services, doctors are increasingly asking for advice on their social media use.
She said: ‘It can be a tricky area, as doctors are expected to uphold professional standards when using social media and this extends to their private lives. They can be held accountable for things they say, like or share in private messaging groups, even those that are not work-related. Many are not aware of this.
‘Our advice is to carefully consider the private messaging groups you join and the information you post, like, share and comment on within them. Think about how you would feel if a colleague or patient saw the chat or if it was shared to a wider audience.’
GMC guidance advises doctors that the standards remain the same whether communication takes place face to face or via a social media platform.
Doctors are expected to:
Identify themselves when commenting on health issues;
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
Take care not to breach patient confidentiality;
Behave respectfully to colleagues.