title: Guidelines for ethical and professional use of social media in a hand surgery practice.
abstract: In growing numbers, patients are using social media platforms as resources to obtain health information and report their experiences in the health care setting. More physicians are making use of these platforms as a means to reach prospective and existing patients, to share information with each other, and to educate the public. In this ever-expanding online dialogue, questions have arisen regarding appropriate conduct of the physician during these interactions. The purpose of this article is to review the laws that govern online communication as they pertain to physician presence in this forum and to discuss appropriate ethical and professional behavior in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Slifche1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lifchez
authors.forename: Desirae M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Raymond B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Raven
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shafritz
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tueting
mesh_terms: D057171:American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; D057218:Blogging; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality; D034742:Electronic Mail; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000941:ethics*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D061108:Social Media / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States