Social media is a powerful tool for people to share information, opinions, experiences, videos images and audio clips. It is estimated that 79% of Australians now use social media. It is imperative that medical and health practitioners are informed about the challenges that social media presents in regard to their ethical and regulatory responsibilities. Medical Indemnity Insurance Policies should provide Medical Practitioners with adequate cover to protect in the event of adverse social media. At Tego, our policy covers defamation arising out of social media and the cost of engaging a public relations consultant to help safeguard your reputation.
Australia – Medical Indemnity Insurance
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), together with the 14 National Boards has, developed a social media policy, to assist health practitioners understand their obligations.
Medical Practitioners and Health Professionals should keep in mind these 6 key factors when using social media in their professional capacity:
- Be aware of and maintain your professional obligations at all times
- Comply with requirements around confidentiality and privacy
- Present information in an unbiased, evidence based context
- Never use testimonials about your services or business
- Never post information that could harm or damage your professional reputation
- Don’t cross professional boundaries
Medical Indemnity Insurance
There are many forms of Medical Indemnity Insurance, from Medical Practitioners Indemnity Insurance to Entity Medical Malpractice Insurance but inappropriate online behaviour has the potential of damaging a health or medical practitioner’s integrity, relationships with colleagues, as well as any future employment opportunities. In addition, by failing to maintain professional standards, you may open yourself to disciplinary actions for professional misconduct/ unprofessional conduct.
With the rapid rise of social media as a basic way people communicate and engage an audience, it is important to have an experienced Medical Indemnity Insurer on your side, protecting your practice and well-being. Medical practitioners need help in combating these emerging exposures. Medical Practice Insurance in Australia is one of the most complex areas of general insurance and is often the most misunderstood.
TEGO offers Medical Indemnity Insurance for medical practitioners and Entity Medical Practice Insurance, a. We have a profound understanding of the Australian medical profession and the ever-changing healthcare industry. It’s this expertise that allows us to provide leading cover with more choice, innovation and greater flexibility. Contact us to find out more.
This publication is general in nature and is not comprehensive or constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal, medical or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practice proper clinical decision making with regard to individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgment or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Tego Insurance Pty Ltd is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information.