The May 1 issue of Psychiatric News has an interesting question in the Ethics Corner:
Is It Ethical to ‘Google’ Patients?
Q. We have learned that our psychiatry residents routinely “Google” their patients. On one recent occasion, the resident discovered that an inpatient was on a most-wanted list in another state for arson despite having denied a history of illegal behavior. Is it ethical to do a Google search on your patient’s name? What is the ethical response to learning through a Google search that your patient is wanted by the police?
Read their answer here.