Social Media and The Physician-Patient Relationship

Social media can serve as an effective tool for marketing, communication, education, and information sharing. However, unlike ordinary businesses, health care practices must comply with unique privacy and ethical rules when using these tools.

The general ethical standards adopted under the Medical Practice Act and rules do not specifically address social media. This indicates that regulators intend to apply the same ethical principles for all physician-patient interactions, whether electronic or in person. These principles derive from a combination of established law, rules, and standards of professionalism that would be expected from a reasonably careful practitioner. The Medical Practice Act contains only a simple prohibition against “dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.” Although the rules further define “dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct, ” (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.240)  these guidelines are generic, so physicians must use their good judgment as to apply them to social media.