KATHMANDU, AUGUST 11
Nepal Medical Council, the regulatory and licensing authority of medical practitioners, has issued a code of conduct for doctors regarding the use of social media and electronic media.
As per the code of conduct, no medical practitioner will be permitted to use or mention the position other than that registered with the NMC. "If professional details of any registered doctor are to be disclosed on social media or other electronic platforms, he/she should provide only the details stated in the registration certificate issued by the NMC," it says.
Similarly, the doctors registered with the NMC shall write on social media or other electronic platform the factual, evidence-based and relevant contents related to health and medical treatment. "Prior to posting any details with regard to health of any patient on social media or other electronic platforms, the doctor shall obtain his/her informed consent. However, any content, including video or photo of the patient, should not be posted on social media or any other electronic platform disclosing the identity of the patient," the code of conduct reads.
The code of conduct also has specific guidelines for providing online consultation and advice to patients as part of curative services. "If providing online diagnostic and curative services is inappropriate and impossible, the doctors shall provide necessary medical services after compulsorily conducting physical check-up of the patient," it reads. The code of conduct has also prohibited doctors to criticise the service of any person, doctor or institution while providing online service to patients.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 12, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
