In the Era of Social Media: Is it time to establish a code of online ethical conduct for healthcare professionals?

摘要: Social media is becoming an invasive part of the lives many professionals including those in healthcare field. One countless implications such invasion how professional's engagement with social affects traditional doctor-patient relationship. The online presence should be carefully self-monitored as it individual's reputation and society's perception their profession. Therefore, contents public personal accounts must differ according to purpose. In eye, conflicts interest declared scientifically-based medical advice clearly differentiated from experience-based advice, opinions or commercial advertisements. Online relationships risk privacy patients well professional. Personal created for friends family kept separate educational, professional purposes. Published educational material so that easier make informed decision. This paper proposes a code ethical conduct implemented Oman.