Caution and guidance for the social media savvy physician

Abstract

The advent of social media has brought with it the ability to publish one’s opinions instantly. This luxury offers physicians an opportunity to educate and inform rapidly and on a mass scale. However, without a system of peer-review, the act of self-publishing is susceptible to crossing professional and ethical boundaries. When doctors review their intentions and follow stricter guidelines prior to posting to social media, a beneficial symbiosis can be achieved.