From Rutgers U: The legal and ethical implications of social media in the emergency department

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23364405

Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2013 Jan;35(1):53-6. doi: 10.1097/TME.0b013e31827a4926.

The legal and ethical implications of social media in the emergency department.

Lyons R, Reinisch C.

Source

Rutgers University College of Nursing, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey (Drs Lyons and Reinisch); Pediatric Emergency Department, Newark Beth Israel, Newark, New Jersey; and Hasbro Children's Hospital Emergency Department, Providence, Rhode Island (Dr Lyons); and Overlook Hospital Emergency Department, Summit, New Jersey (Dr Reinisch).

Abstract

Social media is a growing and popular means of communication. It is understandable that health care providers may not share identifying information on patients through these sources. Challenges arise when patients and family members wish to record the care provided in the emergency department. The health care provider may be faced with an ethical and possibly legal dilemma when social media is present in the emergency department. This article seeks to discuss the legal and ethical principles surrounding social media in the emergency department.