Best Practice Guidelines on the Use of Social Media by Doctors and Dentists

Social media has gained much popularity in recent years initially for personal use by individuals but has quickly become also a channel for professionals in various fields to communicate with their co-workers and clients alike. For doctors and dentists where the boundary between social and professional life may sometimes be blurred, social media must be used with caution. Many overseas medical organisations have already promulgated guidelines on the use of social media for their members to observe.

In 2020, a Task Force under the Academy’s Professionalism and Ethics Committee conducted a survey among Fellows, aiming to study the usage of social media by specialists and trainees in Hong Kong. The results and findings were presented at a seminar in 2021 and considered by the Task Force in compiling a set of Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) on the Use of Social Media by Doctors and Dentists. The BPG aims to provide relevant guidance and advice in this area to medical and dental practitioners. It may be updated from time to time when necessary. Click here to read or download the BPG.