Social media permeates into nearly every facet of our lives. From food accounts to accounts created by medical professionals, it’s easy to get caught up in apps like Instagram and Facebook on a daily basis. As a medical license defense attorney in Chicago, we have seen this topic come to light in recent years and social media continues to grow in popularity.
The Benefits
There is a wide variety of medical professionals who turn to social media to help promote themselves, answer questions, or even to vent. Doctors may utilize social media profiles to gain patients and build up their portfolios. Surgeons may also utilize their social media followings to help teach young doctors to learn techniques.
Consider the Downsides
There’s a huge consideration of doctor-patient confidentiality that needs to be factored in regarding whether or not it’s worth it to post on social media. It’s important to note that the Illinois law prohibits the use of a person’s image without their consent, so doctors posting images without getting the permission of their patients is against the law. Be mindful that anything that you post on social media can ultimately be used against you in legal situations, so it’s important to know that you are following all rules and regulations diligently.
Key Takeaways
Physicians need to utilize their best judgment when determining what to post on social media. We recommend staying updated on the rules and regulations about posting and always err on the side of caution. The last thing you want is to need to utilize our medical license defense attorney in Chicago because you’re at risk of losing your license. If you’re a medical professional and you find yourself in a difficult situation where you’re defending your license, please reach out to our skilled team at Zimmerman Law Offices today.
