Online physicians, offline patients: Professional identity and ethics in social media use
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 11 June 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the nature, gravity, and consequences of physician use of social media use surpass professional identity, by bringing to attention the nuanced, potential conflicts between patient-physician interests in current educational policies.
Design/methodology/approach
Analyzing a case study of a physician publicly posting and commenting on many of his patients’ information, conversations, and medical conditions on social media.
Findings
Physician social media use carries many issues that concern ethics and the patient, rather than professional identity and the physician. In response, two sets of ethical standards are developed: one that deals with what constitutes impermissible behaviors online, and another that stipulates appropriate punishments for violations of these codes.
Originality/value
Most medical education policies and the literature have emphasized professional identity- formation with regards to physician use of social media, rather than ethics. Furthermore, no study exists that presents a clear, concrete, insider perspective at physicians’ improper use of social media.
Keywords
Citation
Au, A. (2018), "Online physicians, offline patients: Professional identity and ethics in social media use", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 38 No. 5-6, pp. 474-483. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-08-2017-0102
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited