PROPOSED RULES FOR RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA USE 4.

Do not accept former or current patients as friends or contacts in

What is Social media?
Electronic communication, websites or applications through which
users connect, interact or share information or other content with
other individuals, collectively part of an online community.
- Example of Social media: This includes Facebook, Twitter,
Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Blogs, Social
Networking sites.
What is a Health facility?
Refers to the hospital or other health care facilities, including
training and educational institutions.
Who are the individuals concern?
Refers to physicians, employees, other health facility staff,
residents, or students to which this policy would apply
Things to be mindful of when using social media
1. Duties to the patient and community, his profession and his
colleagues
2. Online reputation and how it impacts his or her profession or
institution he is professionally connected
3. No laws are being violated -- including copyright, libel and
cybercrime laws.
4. Uphold Ethical standards required of those providing health
services, upon which patient trust is built.
How to use social media for Health Education or Promotion
1. Refrain spread of misinformation
Refrain from any activity which spreads or tends to
spread misinformation
2. Articles must be evidenced based and connections be disclosed to
avoid conflict of interest
Articles written and posted must be evidence- based
and disclose connections with health product company
or other sources of possible conflict of interest.
personal accounts, unless there is justification to do so.
5. Informal and personal information concerning a patient, colleague
or the health facility shall not be posted.
6. Do not use social media to establish inappropriate relationships
and to obtain information that would negatively impact on the
provision of services
7. Refrain using photos within the health facility which would give the
impression of unprofessionalism
What are the responsible social media activity
1. Respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of
another
2. Do not use social media to damage the reputation of another
3. Derogatory comments about patients, colleagues, employers and
institutions or companies should be avoided
4. Be careful of sharing posts or other contents that are unverified
5. Follow copyright rules
6. An individual is prohibited from:
a. Social media activities that defame, harass, stalk, or
bully another person or institution.
b. The use or access of personal social media accounts of
others without authority.
c. Posting, sharing or otherwise using any information
intended to be private
d. Posting, sharing or otherwise using recorded
conversations obtained without consent
7. Individuals should use conservative privacy settings in their social
media account used professionally
Health information Privacy
1. Respect the right to privacy of others
2. Personal health information shall not be posted without consent of
the patient.
3. Avoid posting any information which could be used to identify
patients without their consent.
4. Avoid posting any other information acquired in attending to a
patient in a professional capacity, and which would blacken the
reputation of the patient. The duty of maintaining patient
confidentiality remains even after patient’s death.
5. Avoid posting any information relating to the identity, status and
personal details of persons with HIV, those who have undergone
drug rehabilitation, and victims of domestic violence, rape and
child abuse.
Sections on Compliance and Reporting and Penalty omitted

3. General opinions only – no specific medical diagnosis

No specific medical diagnosis, advice, treatment or

projection but shall consist of general opinions only.

4. Avoid misrepresentation

Ensure that published opinion will not constitute

misrepresentation in his or her social media activity
relating to content, his or her employment or
credentials, and any other information that may be
misconstrued or taken out of context.

How to uphold professionalism in Social Media use

1. Single account for both professional and private use is discouraged

2. Conduct oneself in social media the same way one would in public
3. Refrain using name, logo or other symbol of the institution without
prior authority