Social Media Health Concerns

Patients using social media for healthcare information raises ethical concerns for physicians. American Medical News (3/28, Dolan) reports, "National Research Corp., a healthcare research company based in Lincoln, Neb., recently surveyed more than 22,000 Americans and found that nearly 16% use social media sites as a source of healthcare information." For physicians, however, using social media may raise ethical concerns. "For example, American Medical Association policy discourages physicians from socially interacting with patients on social media, though professional sites are encouraged. The Association has had policy, even before social media was an issue, that physicians should not practice medicine online with patients when there has been no previous face-to-face relationship."