Online searching of patients is a complement, not a workaround

Amara says that searching for information about patients online is an unspoken taboo, with limited guidance on when it might be appropriate.1 A policy or guideline might help clinicians, but I suggest reflecting on the pillars of medical ethics to guide whether it is appropriate.If a clinician opts to google a patient to aid their decision making, this should be clearly documented in clinical notes and communicated to the patient. In the example of an adult performer with HIV, this would be justified by beneficence and non-maleficence. Changes in clinical care on this basis would have to be clearly communicated to maintain doctor-patient trust.Furthermore, if a clinician searches for a patient and does not find any clinically relevant information, they should ensure that they take practical steps to minimise the reading of irrelevant information that might prejudice their views of the patient and thus alter their interactions. This should still…
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