Following a post last week about the benefits of immunization, Ohio pediatrician Nicole Baldwin became the target of a coordinated anti-vaccine attack on TikTok, Facebook and even her office. Her story then became the subject of mainstream media news. Of course, physicians as targets of the anti-vaccine mob is not new. Bloggers and early era social media ... Continue Reading about Anti-vaccine Attack on TikTok – Is Facebook Complicit?
Messenger Kids from Facebook – What it Says About Us and Our Technology
Earlier this week Facebook announced the release of its product for children, Messenger Kids. Messenger Kids makes it easier for kids to video chat and message with family and friends with parental control. But you don’t need to look far to find those voicing concern. So what does our response to Messenger Kids say about us and technology? We don’t want our kids ... Continue Reading about Messenger Kids from Facebook – What it Says About Us and Our Technology
When Hospitals Engage by Megaphone
Last fall while teaching at the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media Residency, I sat with an hospital admin who asked me about her facility’s twitter and Facebook feeds. I told her it was a remarkable coincidence that everything created and shared was about her facility. She suggested it was because so many remarkable achievements came from her ... Continue Reading about When Hospitals Engage by Megaphone
Should We Screen Doctors for Social Judgment?
It’s a recurring story that played itself out again recently. A medical student takes pictures of a patient and posts them on Facebook. This time the alleged victim is an inebriated supermodel and the student, one who defied direct orders to cease and desist. The result is a $1.5m lawsuit, an embarrassed institution, a ruined career, and most importantly, a patient ... Continue Reading about Should We Screen Doctors for Social Judgment?
You Can’t Stop Public Conversation
I hear occasionally of medical schools that prohibit students from blogging or using tools like Twitter. But those trying to legislate the conversation don't realize how fragmented our channels of dialog have become. And the rules that are created never really make sense. Blogging is prohibited but long comments are fine. Twitter is verboten while Instagram, ... Continue Reading about You Can’t Stop Public Conversation
Should Doctors Friend Patients on Facebook?
[I’m creating some physician teaching material and I could use some input on doctor-patient connections on social sites. What am I missing? What have I overstated] Should you friend your patients on Facebook, or other social sites? Or if you’re a medical student on your pediatrics rotation and a young mother friends you, how should you respond? Here are few ... Continue Reading about Should Doctors Friend Patients on Facebook?