CorpComms Magazine

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), a legal body for doctors, has warned its members that communicating via social media sites such as Facebook may be a breach of ethical responsibilities.

The warning followed a number of cases in which patients propositioned doctors after finding their details on the Internet. The MDU warned that doctors should not respond even if it is just to politely turn down the invitation.

Emma Cuzner, a legal adviser to MDU, said: 'Any correspondence of this sort would clearly stray outside the doctor/patient relationship. We are advising our members about the importance of keeping relationships with patients on a professional footing.'

Trainee medics at Birmingham University had to block their Facebook profiles after patients they had treated during placements approached them.

The union also added that doctors should refrain from making comments on social media sites that could identify patients. This follows a case last year where a group of dental nurses establishing a social networking group called 'I'm a dental nurse and I hate patients because...'

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