Ann Tracy M.
Co-editor, Ragan health care communications website/Blogger/Lincoln enthusiast
So, what do you think? Would you want your doctor tweeting your surgery?
In a recent episode of the TV show, "Grey’s Anatomy," Dr. Bailey is tweeting a play-by-play of a surgery, against the wishes of the chief of surgery. Things go terribly awry and the patient starts hemorrhaging. http://yhoo.it/gnIZAv
Regardless of this patient's condition, I think the episode raises all kinds of questions about how we use social media - inside or outside of medicine. What do you think?
Good Answers (5)
Joe H.
Medical Device Marketing Consultant and Owner of LinkedIn's largest Medical Devices Group
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I'm a bit surprised by the relatively negative tone of the responses.
If tweeting or any social medium were used to document / educate / inform details in a unattributed way, I would be fine with the practice assuming the communicator has no other role in my procedure. (Yes, no multi-tasking during my surgery, thank you.)
See this ABC story for reference:
Links:
Anthony S.
ICT Manager at Bott Limited
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There is an issue of doctor / patient confidentiality. It could be extremely close to the line as it might be possible to identify the patient from some information released.
Having said that, some surgeons video tape their procedures (for training purposes) - having someone send tweets is just a variation on that. I would suggest that it should not be done by the actual doctor as there are potential issues with infection, losing the device, concentration etc
Personally, it wouldn't bother me.
Dr. Jacqueline T.
Health Care Consultant Dedicated to Keeping the Caring in Health Care
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First of all, the patient can sign a waver so that confidentiality is not an issue..secondly, there are rural areas that do not have the same resources as major cities and real time consultations might be an advantage...the area of health, E-Medicine, has brought many challanges to providers, but has truly solved some critical problems...I do not condone tweeting about the Super Bowl during the surgery, but before rejecting the medium, I think we have to explore where this would benefit the patient (the most critical standard)...Dr J
Dmitriy N. G.
CEO at Applied Med Therapy®
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Agree 100% on patient's right to decide. Technically speaking, with speech recognition software development of such innovation is very plausible. Personally, I would like to know every detail of the surgery, if it is related to my family member or the client, with tweeting - my presence or other people's is not necessary. It is good thing to have less people in the Operating Room - much less chances for complications and successful outcome.
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Dave M.
Professional trade show booth traffic builder and party entertainer. Corporate and private sector events.
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No Doctor would, in real life ever attempt this... Can you say lawsuit...?
Bryan C W.
Seeking a new opportunity in B2B technology; global experience
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TV is NOT reality...
Tim T.
Senior Sales Representative
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as I said before
that doctor would have a hard time putting band aides on his own skinned knees
Its happened. At CMC in Dallas a surgeon had permission from the family to tweet during the procedure. A medical student was in charge of the Dr directed tweets during the procedure. In this case, nothing bad happened. But it seems as if there was a very positive response among the family members.
Dan S.
Field Technical Support Rep IV − LTE at
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I've yet to see ANY tweets that are worth watching.
If I catch my Banker, Stockbroker, or Car Mechanic Tweeting when they should be working, to borrow the words of Donald Trump "You're FIRED".
Dan
Greg L.
ProActive PC Support & Training. Proprietor, LauverSystems.com Edwardsburg, Michigan
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If that's anything like texting while driving, I'd rather he go do that.
Cheryl R.
Founder and Principal of CatapultMe and Cheryl Roshak Associates. Transforming Lives for Positive Change.
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@Joe - I read the article you linked for us and I still have issues with tweeting during surgery, even if the Mayo Clinic is teaching doctors and nurses the how to tweet.
I had simultaneously bilateral hip replacements a few years ago, it was an 8 hour procedure, far longer than my surgeon had anticipated due to the degeneration he discovered after opening me up. To be honest, I would prefer that his focus remain on me during such a complicated and long procedure rather than telling some assistant what to tweet while he was operating.
I think there's a big difference between having students watch during a procedure or having it videotaped, and tweeting, which is like text messaging during surgery, and somehow that just doesn't sit right with me. And I tweet.
Perhaps it's too new to make grand sweeping statements, it may have its place someday. There have been live surgical TV shows showing procedures for years. But how much benefit can one get from tweets? Well, that's just my opinion. The idea doesn't thrill me for many reasons.
Indira C.
Banking Professional
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Never...it is a very personal issue and should not be made public for others' entertainment...
As for educating, it may be used only with patient's consent in the lecture room/institutes for doctors....
John L.
Senior Risk Management Representative at Utica National Insurance Group
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I make my kids turn off all electrical devices during dinner so they are not distracted from what they are supposed to be doing.
To paraphrase the song "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds from the early 1960's "there's a time for…." and surgery is not a time for tweeting.
Laura C.
Business Blogging and Social Media Specialist | Content Writing | Website Design | BloggingBistro.com
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Yikes! Doesn't that violate confidentiality rules?
And why does the world need to receive a play-by-play of anybody's surgery?
That's taking tweeting a bit too far, in my opinion.
Todd K.
Freelance Production Manager and Lighting Designer with experience in theater, film, television , event and theme parks
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I would find it hard to believe that any surgeon would be paying attention to anything but the patient and procedure taking place. In this day of sue first ask questions later no physician would risk the malpractice suit ad possible loss of their license. Aside from a malpractice suit there are many rights to privacy laws that would be violated again cause for yet another law suit and joy on the part of the patients lawyers.
Being in the tv/film business I can also attest to the fact that not everything we do in tv is fact and that is a fact.
However I would have no problem with a surgeon doing a webcast of a procedure on a medical site for other surgeons as long as the operation surgeon is not operating the camera and has the permission of the patient, technology can be used for spreading knowledge as well as facebooking old high school friends, after all it is the information highway we travel upon.
Wallace J.
Multimedia Producer, i3D Programmer, Acrobat 3D PDF, Android App, Virtual World & iTV Design, Kindle, Nook & Sony eBooks
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Sure Why Not?! ;)
Dr. Laura U.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist/Weight Liberator
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As already mentioned, I'd sue. If a doctor really did that, the'd be fired on the spot. Hospital administrators are very concerned with liability. It is intersting that so many people think they are that important that people would even care what they are doing every 5 minutes. I adore some musicians and actors, but don't care what they are doing every second. People need to have a real social life.
Bhalchandra P.
Brand Advisor, Branding Consultant, Marketeer right till the bone. Now!!! Tempting Brand Owners by SCENT....
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Most of the times in my Doctor's clinic or any Hospital, I read the signboard,' Please SWITCH OFF your mobiles before entering as it can harm any patient.'
People who preach should follow it first................
