The National Medical Commission has invited comments from the public in general and experts/stakeholders/organizations on ‘National Medical Commission, Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2022”.
The NMC has given one month time to file the comments from the individuals and organizations by June 22, 2022.
The regulations related to professional conduct of registered medical practitioners (RMPs), duties towards the public and allied healthcare professionals and other medical profession related issues.
One of the guidelines in the regulation is related to the conduct of RMPs on social/electronic and print media.
The key principles of guidelines on social media including the broader principle of medical ethics should guide the use of social media by RMPs, the RMPs need to distinguish between telemedicine consultation and social media and All written and visual communication should be truthful, respectful, and professional.
This is mentioned in Guidelines – 6 says the RMPs can provide information and announcement on social media. However the information should be factual and can be verified.
The information should not be misleading or deceptive, nor should it exploit the patient’s vulnerability or lack of knowledge, the draft regulation says.
The RMPs should avoid discussing the treatment of patients on public social media or prescribing medicine to patients on the public social media platform.
If a patient approaches doctors through public social media, the doctor should guide the patient toward a telemedicine consultation or in-person consultation as the situation warrants, the draft regulation says.
The RMPs should not post patients’ photographs or scan images (ct/pet scans) on social media. Once an image is posted in social media, it becomes data that is owned by the social media company or the general public.
RMPs behavior on social media towards his colleagues should be guided by general principles of medical ethics on professional behaviour.
RMPs should not directly or indirectly indulge in the practice of purchasing “likes”, “followers”, or paying money so that search algorithms lead to their name being listed at the top or registering on software programs (apps) that charge fees for higher ratings or soliciting patients.
RMPs should not request or share patients’ testimonials or recommendations or endorsements, the draft regulation says.
RMPs should refrain from sharing images of healed/cured patients, or surgery/procedure videos or images displaying impressive results under any circumstances.
RMP is allowed to share educative material for the information of the general public. However, communication should be limited to the expertise of the RMP.
Soliciting of patients directly or indirectly through social media is unethical, the draft regulation says.
