Even as Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council (JKMC) has formally recognised social media as a powerful communication tool for healthcare professionals but it has warned against its misuse, especially in ways that could violate patient privacy, confidentiality, or medical ethics.
This strong caution comes after a week when an MBBS student filmed his career’s first stint in the operation theatre and posted it online as a reel, triggering uproar following which the government issued social media guidelines for doctors in the Union Territory. The guidelines primarily prohibit medicos from sharing images or videos of treatment results, surgeries, procedures, or healed patients.
In the video, which was widely circulated on social media platforms, an MBBS student at GMC Srinagar’s LD Hospital, excitedly shared that he was about to perform his first surgery in the OT, and proceeded to the labour room, thus exposing the parts of the patient’s body.Taking serious cognisance, JKMC issued a set of guidelines to ensure such violations do not recur. While acknowledging the role of social media as “a powerful communication tool”, the Council, in a statement, cautioned against its misuse, particularly in ways that compromised patient privacy, confidentiality or autonomy.
JKMC directed registered doctors to follow the set guidelines on the professional conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) regarding the use of social media platforms in adherence to Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002.
Patient information — including images, scans, treatments, and outcomes — must not be disclosed without explicit and informed consent, JKMC said. “Consent is invalid if the patient is in a compromised physical, mental, or emotional state. Patient testimonials, endorsements, or reviews cannot be solicited or shared in any case on social media,” it added.
The Council asked RMPs to maintain dignity and avoid behaviour that discredits the profession on any media platform. Online presence must reflect medical ethics, truthfulness, and respect for the profession, patients, colleagues and the community, JKMC said, urging doctors to share content responsibly. The MBBS student had captured restricted areas of Lalla Ded Hospital, including a live surgery, with the doctor casually speaking to the camera.
“This is a normal day,” he says while filming his entry into the OT. In another clip, he adds, “Ye dekho, sab kaam chalu hai. (Look, everything is running as usual),” before walking past staff inside the labour room.In the video he showed a surgery procedure in operation theatre and also said the surgery had been performed normally.The video has triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many accusing the doctor of gross insensitivity and violation of medical ethics.
Interestingly, the new controversy has erupted at a time when public confidence in government-run hospitals remains fragile.
Just days earlier, a strike by doctors at SMHS Hospital disrupted services and raised fresh concerns about accountability within the healthcare system.
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