What can Ontario MDs say on Twitter?

Exploring CPSO's June 2022 Social Media Policy. Reflective intro added April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023: I learned recently that my work on Substack had been included in the CPSO investigation regarding my use of social media in the setting of covid journalism. This is a welcome development, as Substack is far easier to assess than Twitter, being in a more conventional format. That said, what would help me would be a “flag” system - since initiation of this investigation two years ago, I have not received a guideline about what to say/how to say it, beyond what is written below.

It was pointed out to me by a colleague today that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario did not have a policy on social media until recently - June 2022. Meanwhile, numerous physicians including myself were subject to high-level investigations - high-level in the sense of being expensive with respect to legal bills and potential punishments - prior to the creation of this policy.

This is a minor procedural matter for another day. Meanwhile…

Now that there is an explicit policy, how does it affect what a physician may speak or write on social media?

While there are pieces of sound advice regarding not being rude etc., there appear to be three central items for the “informational type” here:

1. Avoid disruptive behaviour

2. Back up claims with scientific, statistical data

3. Avoid falsehoods, deception, or misleading statements

This all seems eminently reasonable. The missing piece would be a mechanism for the CPSO to dialogue with a member whose social media work seems a bit “over the top,” without initating a section 75 investigation and causing the expenditure of thousands in legal fees.

Also left unaddressed is the question of humour…