A medical practice in Derry, Ireland has found itself at the center of a controversy after its doctors told a patient she would need to apologize for comments she posted on a social media site or find a new healthcare provider, according to Derry Now.
Doctors at the Abbey Medical Practice sent a letter to the female patient, who asked not to be identified, saying she would need to find another practice unless she apologized for comments she posted on Facebook complaining about the length of time she had to wait for an appointment. The letter was signed by three of the practice’s doctors.
“Abbey Medical Practice has a zero tolerance policy with respect to social media abuse,” the letter stated, informing the patient her view of the service was not compatible with her continuation as a patient.
The doctors said the woman should send a written apology within two weeks if she wished to remain a patient and make it clear she will refrain from public social media comments in the future.
"Patients would object if a doctor spoke about them on social media,” Martin McCloskey, M.D., local medical committee secretary, told the publication. “If they don’t speak with respect and are so unhappy with their care then they should consider changing to a different practice of which there are 15 in Derry.”
The patient and her family told the news web site the letter was “disgraceful” and she would not issue an apology. Saying she “is fed up with it now,” the woman told the publication she will find another practice.
As FiercePracticeManagement reported, the potential for posts on social media raise a new set of ethical quandaries for physicians and make strong doctor-patient relationships more important than ever.
- read the article