By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Effective Healthcare Requires a Social Approach
    June 15, 2015
    CCBHCs
    2016 Excellence in Behavioral Health Program Design
    February 23, 2016
    conducting Clinical Trial
    5 Tips for Conducting a Clinical Trial
    April 21, 2024
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Doctors and Social Media: Legal Aspects and Bottom Line
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > Doctors and Social Media: Legal Aspects and Bottom Line
Social Media

Doctors and Social Media: Legal Aspects and Bottom Line

Barbara Ficarra
Barbara Ficarra
Share
4 Min Read
BARBARA FICARRA FLTC 0007
SHARE

 

The health care social media legal series continues here on Healthin30, and legal expert, David Harlow, Esq, Health Care Attorney and Consultant at The Harlow Group, LLC in Boston, answers a series of questions focusing on the legal aspects of physicians engaging in social media.

 

The health care social media legal series continues here on Healthin30, and legal expert, David Harlow, Esq, Health Care Attorney and Consultant at The Harlow Group, LLC in Boston, answers a series of questions focusing on the legal aspects of physicians engaging in social media.

More Read

Image
How Good a Doctor Are You?
Can Technology Transform HealthCare?
ZocDoc – Healthcare Answers & Appointments Made Easy
15 Ways A Doctor Can Get More Patients Using the Internet
Explore the Benefits of Creating an Online Community for Your Practice

Health Care Social Media – Legal Aspects

BARBARA FICARRA FLTC 0007

Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Q: Barbara – According to the American Medical Association, it states:  “When physicians see content posted by colleagues that appears unprofessional they have a responsibility to bring that content to the attention of the individual, so that he or she can remove it and/or take other appropriate actions.  If the behavior significantly violates professional norms and the individual does not take appropriate action to resolve the situation, the physician should report the matter to appropriate authorities.”

Who is the appropriate authority?

 

 

 

David Harlow, Esq. for Healthin30 Legal Q&A

David Harlow, Esq.

A: David Harlow, Esq. – The peer reporting laws and regulations of each state’s medical board generally establish the duty of a physician regarding peer monitoring and reporting. It is a condition of each physician’s license to monitor colleagues and report infractions — whether related to clinical issues or matters of candor, privacy and integrity, as outlined above.

 

 

 

Q: Barbara – Can a consumer or patient report inappropriate physician behavior?  Who would they report it to?

A: David Harlow, Esq. – The state medical board is the governmental authority that would investigate such allegations. There are also professional societies, employers, medical staff organizations and hospitals or other facilities where the clinician has privileges that may have relevant polices in place regarding inappropriate use of social media. It is often the case that some of such organizations will respond more rapidly to an allegation of such inappropriate behavior than the state agency would.

Q: Barbara – What’s the bottom line when it comes to social media and doctors?

A: David Harlow, Esq. – Social media platforms are important portals for communication back and forth between patient and clinician, and among clinicians. Clinicians must recognize the limitations of all of their tools, including these communications tools. Using these tools can lead to greater patient activation and engagement, to better clinical understanding, and better sharing of learnings relevant to disease prevention and care.

I always like to warn people that social media is a power tool — you need to learn how to use it properly, or someone’s going to get hurt.

Your turn

We would love for you to share your insightful thoughts in the comment section below.  How do you engage in social media?  What has been your experience with Twitter and Facebook?

 

 

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
eHealthSocial Media

Healthcare Marketing to the Millennial Mindset

October 28, 2015
search engine optimization and healthcare marketing
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

Four Lesser-Known Ways to Enhance Your Web Presence

November 29, 2013

Study Predicts Growing Use Of Social Media In Healthcare

January 1, 2012
Mobile HealthSocial Media

Can Mobile Devices Help Connect the Dots for Better Health Care?

March 5, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?