Medical Malpractice And Social Media: Is It A Bad Mix?

Social media is an integral part of our culture; it can have bad and good effects on lives. Many things can go wrong when sharing or posting even seemingly benign things. Occasions have arisen where a person who has committed a crime will post or share the things they have done. In medical malpractice cases, social media can have a direct effect on both sides of the case.

For those who have a public social networking account, you are making it open for anybody to view to determine if you are being fraudulent.  If certain things are shared, this can reveal evidence that might have been useful. A public profile can be applied to discern how credible a claim really is.

Using social media during a medical malpractice case can provide the opposing lawyer a good tool. It may seem you are placing a simple photo or post, however it might have a negative effect on your case.

Many lawyers advise clients even to stay entirely away from social-media or to be very aware of the things they post on social media during an ongoing case.

Social media is now a huge section of our culture; nevertheless it might have adverse outcomes. It is crucial that you understand the consequences that may result from social media use.

Contact us today to discover how we can benefit your medical malpractice case.

Doctors Must be Cautious with Social Media

Social media is being used in a variety of occupations including medicine. Some physicians feel that social-media can be a practical and available way to share data with clients. These communications must be used with caution and professionalism. The American Medical Association adopted a social networking policy in 2010. Guidelines encourage doctors to:

• Set privacy settings to the highest degree that is possible and check their Net presence to make sure that both personal and professional information posted about them is correct and appropriate
• Maintain patient-doctor boundaries
• Consider separate online presence for personal and professional use
• Realize that online postings and material might have an adverse impact on reputation and could bring about professional consequences

A study from the University of California, Bay Area, found several activities were considered more prone to bring about inquiry by state medical boards. Quoting inaccurate data was rated as number one, followed by misrepresenting professional credibility, using patient photos without consent, and inappropriately contacting patients. Ongoing education regarding likely effects of social media is essential to ensure proper and professional use. Although social networking can be an excellent tool for doctor patient communication, it must be used responsibly.

To learn more about social-media guidelines in medicine, contact us!