Stop ogling us online, say ‘hot’ GPs

DOCTORS have complained they are being ogled online by patients who post video consultations on social media while bragging how ‘hot’ they are.

Growing numbers of patients are sharing videos and photographs on Facebook and Twitter - with some posts being viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Some criticise doctors for ‘terrible appointments’ while others remarked on the person’s looks.

GPs say it is leaving them exposed to ‘comments and ridicule’ and have called for sanctions against patients.

Dr Zoe Greaves, a trainee doctor who raised the motion, told the British Medical Association’s annual meeting in Brighton she had heard of doctors being objectified. Research has shown that only about a third of the content of a consultation is remembered by patients, so they are allowed to use recordings. But doctors say there is insufficient guidance to ensure this is not used in the wrong way.

Yesterday, a quick search showed several examples with one person who had taken a picture of a doctor posting on Instagram: ‘When you [are] perving on your doctors #hotdoctors’.

Dr Greaves added: ‘If we are to recognise patients’ rights to make recordings for their own private use then there must be recognised responsibilities alongside that right.’