James E Sabin1,2,3, Jonathan Clark Harland4. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Jim_sabin@harvardpilgrim.org. 2. Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Jim_sabin@harvardpilgrim.org. 3. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, 401 Park Drive (Suite 401 East), Boston, MA, 02215-3301, USA. Jim_sabin@harvardpilgrim.org. 4. Atrius Health and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Internet and social media use continue to expand rapidly. Many patients and psychiatrists are bringing digital technologies into the treatment process, but relatively little attention has been paid to the ethical challenges in doing this. This review presents ethical guidelines for psychiatry in the digital age. RECENT FINDINGS: Surveys demonstrate that patients are eager to make digital technologies part of their treatment. Substantial numbers search for professional and personal information about their therapists. Attitudes among psychiatrists about using digital technologies with patients range from dread to enthusiastic adoption. Digital technologies create four major ethical challenges for psychiatry: managing clinical boundaries; maintaining privacy and confidentiality; establishing realistic expectations regarding digital communications; and upholding professional ideals. Traditional ethical expectations are valid for the evolving digital arena, but guidance must be adapted for actual application in practice.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Internet and social media use continue to expand rapidly. Many patients and psychiatrists are bringing digital technologies into the treatment process, but relatively little attention has been paid to the ethical challenges in doing this. This review presents ethical guidelines for psychiatry in the digital age. RECENT FINDINGS: Surveys demonstrate that patients are eager to make digital technologies part of their treatment. Substantial numbers search for professional and personal information about their therapists. Attitudes among psychiatrists about using digital technologies with patients range from dread to enthusiastic adoption. Digital technologies create four major ethical challenges for psychiatry: managing clinical boundaries; maintaining privacy and confidentiality; establishing realistic expectations regarding digital communications; and upholding professional ideals. Traditional ethical expectations are valid for the evolving digital arena, but guidance must be adapted for actual application in practice.
Entities:
Keywords:
Digital ethics; Email; Facebook; Google; Professionalism; Psychiatric ethics; Social media
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