Social media tempts but patient confidentiality must be upheld
The arrest of an intern doctor, who is also an online influencer, and the suspension of a resident doctor show more ethics training may be needed
The Hospital Authority said it had previously seriously warned the intern doctor over an inappropriate act during an internship at Ruttonjee Hospital and taken disciplinary action against her and another resident doctor over incidents at Caritas Medical Centre.
Earlier, she had posted photos on social media of X-ray sessions on her knee, which she called “perks”. The arrest reportedly comes near the end of her internship, ahead of assessment by her medical school of her fitness to practise. The matter could adversely affect her future.
The incident is a salutary reminder to practitioners in service professions to resist the temptation of social media and uphold professional standards. Patient and client confidentiality is sacred. Now that technology makes it easier for private information to be exposed, there may be a need to step up training to ensure professional confidentiality is scrupulously observed.
The Hospital Authority has rightly reiterated that it has zero tolerance for any behaviour that undermines patient safety and doctors’ professional conduct or that violates professional medical standards. There is room to redouble efforts to instil awareness of ethics and sensitivity about patient confidentiality.