The ethics of medical blogging

The AMA’s Ethics Forum takes on the following question: “Can physician-written blogs meet legal and ethical professionalism standards?”

Maurice Bernstein: “Medical blogs, moderated with attention to civil and open discussion among the visitors and following guidelines for ethical operations, make a significant contribution to the medical education of the public and, I dare say, the profession.”

Rob Lamberts: “Physician blogs should not be seen as an attempt to replace other sources of information, but instead as a new kind of medium — a view into the minds of the rank-and-file members of medicine.

Used properly, blogs can give voice to a group that has often felt powerless to affect change. Ultimately, the responsible use of this medium lies with the blogger.”