posting online Flashcards
doctor posts online backing against vaccination
Doctors are allowed to post their opinions and thoughts on social media
GMC is clear that when you identify yourself as a doctor online, you must make sure the information you publish is factual and can be checked, and does not exploit patients’ vulnerability or lack of medical knowledge.
doctor is publishing an opinion that is not backed up with any medical evidence and posting links to similar websites, which again are not backed up with evidence. They are using their identity as a doctor to give these claims validity, and this may lead to harm to patients who decide not to get vaccinated because of this post. The behaviour demonstrated here is not professional or what would be expected of someone in a position of responsibility.
What would you do about these posts by this doctor?
opinions expressed by the doctor are clearly a cause for concern, b
it is courteous to discuss this with the individual first.
In the first instance trying to understand why they have posted them would be important before escalating this further.
They may be misinformed or being encouraged to post these views by someone else. Trying to help the individual see why this might be dangerous this may lead to a change in their behaviour
. In the event that they do not want to talk to you, or you felt that they were going to continue posting these messages, you would be advised to escalate your concerns.
who would i escalate this incident to
involve the individual’s direct supervisor after discussing the incident with them - a consultant in their department or their clinical or educational supervisor.
did not think this incident was being dealt with appropriately or you were concerned about whom to raise this to in your department, it may be appropriate to raise your concerns with a named person in the deanery – for example, the postgraduate dean.
when may it be appropriate to raise this issue with the GMC ?
If you cannot raise the issue with the responsible person or body locally because you believe them to be part of the problem.
If you have raised your concern through local channels but are not satisfied that the responsible person or body has taken adequate action.
If there is an immediate serious risk to patients, and a regulator or other external body has a responsibility to act or intervene.
