Doctors warned about risk of 'Facebook flirts'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8389458.stm
Joelyn Timoner blog #4

This article is about doctors that are being pursued on facebook in flirting attempts. The warning directed to the doctors is if they communicate through social network sites may be a breach of ethics after a number of cases which patients looked up doctors on these websites popped up recently. Also, doctors were advised not to talk to other doctors about patients on these websites to let off steam. There was an incident last year that nurses were reprimanded for making a social networking group called "I'm a dental nurse and I hate patients because..." There was another incident that medics in training were told to block their "Facebook" profiles because there were being bothered by patients they had treated.

This is an example of social control in the media as well as social control in general. Agencies are trying to limit the usage of "Facebook" by doctors as well as what they are using it for. Doctors have the rebuttal that they could participate in these social networking sites since they are not on the clock and "Facebook" is outside of their work life. The agencies are warning the doctors that if they continue to pursue this type of behavior, they are violating their ethical code and could lose their practice license. This is related to social control in the media is that through this networking site, doctors and nurses are being watched by agencies that can be responsible for them being fired. The agencies remark that the doctors must maintain that professional doctor-patient relationship. And pursuing outside relationships or making social groups to rant about patients are violations of their ethical duty.

This is related to social control because the website is being used by those agencies and patients to look up the activities of the doctors and nurses. Hospital workers could be monitored on their practices of patient care and if any illegal activity. This information could be used against them, although they are off the clock and are participating in activities outside of work.