title: Pathology Image-Sharing on Social Media: Recommendations for Protecting Privacy While Motivating Education.
abstract: There is a rising interest in the use of social media by pathologists. However, the use of pathology images on social media has been debated, particularly gross examination, autopsy, and dermatologic condition photographs. The immediacy of the interactions, increased interest from patients and patient groups, and fewer barriers to public discussion raise additional considerations to ensure patient privacy is protected. Yet these very features all add to the power of social media for educating other physicians and the nonmedical public about disease and for creating better understanding of the important role of pathologists in patient care. The professional and societal benefits are overwhelmingly positive, and we believe the potential for harm is minimal provided common sense and routine patient privacy principles are utilized. We lay out ethical and practical guidelines for pathologists who use social media professionally.
authors.affiliation: Serves as a United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology ambassador and as section editor for social media at the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
authors.forename: Genevieve M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor of pathology and dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the chair and founding member of social media subcommittees for both the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology and the American Society of Dermatopathology and is a deputy editor-in-chief of the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
authors.forename: Jerad M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics*; D004493:Education; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000941:ethics*; D009042:Motivation; D010336:Pathology / Q000941:ethics*; D018907:Privacy; D061108:Social Media