Kate Sweet writes:
As health care providers continue to try to navigate the world of social media, the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (the “Board”) has issued policy guidelines (the “Guidelines”) to address the use of social media by the state’s physicians. The Policy Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Social Media and Social Networking in Medical Practice were issued on October 23, 2103 and address how ethical standards for physicians apply when interacting with patients and the public through social media. In short, the Guidelines provide that “the standards of medical care do not change by virtue of the medium in which physicians and their patients choose to interact.”
Read more on MintzLevin Privacy & Security Matters.
The guidelines do not address the ethical issue mentioned recently on this blog: should healthcare providers Google or research their patients using online sources? It would be nice to see some professional groups really address that question.