Doctors warned they could be sacked for spreading fake news
DOCTORS who criticise vaccines or lockdown policies on social media could be struck off if regulators rule they are guilty of spreading fake news.
The core guidance for medics has been updated for the first time in almost a decade to cover platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The draft regulations from the General Medical Council (GMC), which it describes as a 21st century version of the Hippocratic Oath, also say doctors must speak out if they encounter “toxic” workplace cultures that threaten patient safety.
For the first time, the guidance sets out a specific duty “to act, or support others to act, if they become aware of workplace bullying, harassment or discrimination, as well as zero tolerance of sexual harassment”.
Doctors can face a range of sanctions – including being struck off the medical register – if they are found to have failed in their duties. Charlie Massey, GMC chief executive, said: “Good medical practice is the bedrock that helps guide ethical practice and supports doctors to provide the best possible care in a world of increasingly complex medicine.
“There is a lot of evidence of the damage bad workplace cultures can do to patient safety and, ultimately, to the UK’S ability to retain the healthcare professionals it needs.
“Toxic cultures can also spread online, undermining public trust in the medical profession.”
“We are already clear that doctors must be honest and trustworthy in their communications, and are now emphasising that this applies to all forms of communication. The principles remain the same whether the communication is written, spoken or via social media.”
The draft guidance says doctors can also be held accountable for promoting misleading information or stepping outside areas of their expertise.
In December, a judge ruled that the GMC’S interim orders tribunal had made an “error of law” when it ordered a GP accused of spreading misinformation to stop discussing Covid on social media.
Dr Samuel White, who was a partner at a practice in Hampshire, raised concerns about vaccines and claimed “masks do nothing” in a video posted last June.
The GMC imposed restrictions on Dr White’s registration but the High Court said this decision was “wrong” under human rights law.
Amid accusations of “institutional sexism” within the BMA, Prof Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said he was “pleased to see there is specific guidance around preventing bullying and sexual harassment”.
The Medical Defence Union said it would scrutinise the proposals carefully to ensure the guidance “is compatible with the realities of doctors’ daily working lives”.