Social Media - Safe use in the clinical setting (Part 1)

In part one of this two-part series, we examine how clinicians and health providers in New Zealand use social media, and the medicolegal risks that can arise when seeking clinical advice or discussing workplace issues on platforms that are not secure or private.

The episode explores how identifiable patient information may be inadvertently disclosed, how this can lead to breaches of the Health Information Privacy Code, and how those breaches may trigger employer action or Medical Council review. It also outlines safer ways to seek clinical guidance and highlights prudent approaches to departmental messaging that protect confidentiality and meet legal obligations.