Physicians and the Moral Obligation to Create Content

Dr Vartabedian has an interesting blogpost. " I was thumbing through Seth Godin’s Poke the Box and stumbled on this quote. I couldn’t help but put it in the context of physicians and their obligation to make content:

I hope we can agree that there’s a moral obligation to be honest, to treat people with dignity and respect, and to help those in need.

I wonder if there’s also a moral obligation to start.

I believe there is. I believe that if you’ve got the platform and the ability to make a difference, then this goes beyond “should” and reaches the level of “must.” You must make a difference or you squander the opportunity. Wasting the opportunity both degrades your own ability to contribute and, more urgently, takes something away from the rest of us."

Some old-fashioned doctors still think it's unethical for doctors to have a website. They fell this is like advertising - and not something which medical professionals should do !

It's interesting to see Dr Vartabedian's viewpoint, which I agree with completely ! The word doctor is derived from the word "docere" = to teach; and I feel doctors have an ethical obligation to do so. They need to teach not just the next generation of doctors, but their patients as well. The internet is a very powerful means of teaching and doctors who do not use it to educate their patients are doing a disservice - to themselves, the medical profession; and their patients !