MY DAUGHTER

Such a scenario seems harmless enough, but the doctor is put in an awkward position and the attention is shifted away from addressing the patient's healthcare needs. We have encountered a range of cases where doctors have sought advice from us regarding social media issues, from critical or abusive posts from patients to hate campaigns. It is of little surprise to see the number of cases on the subject grow dramatically over the last few years. Our figures reveal that between 2014 and 2016 there were over four times as many calls from doctors on the subject of social media, with the indications that this figure will continue to rise this year. Social media is a powerful tool and can offer an insight into a doctor when they are off duty. Perhaps that is why a patient would want to befriend their doctor in the first place - the intrigue of catching a glimpse of their life without the stethoscope around their neck. As a doctor, the reality is you are never off duty and their status in the public eye demands a high standard of conduct at all times. By interacting with patients online they are exposing themselves to be scrutinised from their own homes. Patients should also respect that and think twice about requesting access to their doctor's private lives for the good of their relationship with their doctor. Patients should feel comfortable in sharing their personal information and their health with their doctors - but not their Facebook status.   SAVE ME PLS OH MY GOD THANXXX...