The Social Media Dilemma for Doctors Seeking Alternative Careers

Have you ever sent a risky text to a romantic interest?

And then launched your phone as far away from you as possible as if it’s a grenade about to go off?

Me too, its a feeling of immediate regret mixed with a tinge of hope ‘what if they’re into it!’

My point is we all hold an arsenal of so called ‘grenades’ within our minds all the time.

And social media can seem like a warzone that doctors don't want to be a part of because we have too much potentially destructive power.

Social media is a massive opportunity for doctors looking to explore alternative careers. It allows us to reach and connect with people who resonate with our authentic experiences.

But here’s the problem: as a doctor, you can never be completely authentic online.

The reason?... Patients

Not all patients obviously, but the select few who seem to believe that doctors shouldn’t be allowed to express themselves as human beings.

These individuals will take any opportunity to pounce, criticise, and get one up over ‘the doctor ’. They see it as proof of their own importance and intelligence. 

But it creates this suffocating dilemma for doctors: on one hand, sharing real experiences can be invaluable for others in similar situations.

On the other, the backlash from just a few can cause serious professional and reputational damage.

Unlike many other professions where people can speak freely – Doctors feel forced by the public into some sort of NDA about their lives.

The Silent Struggles

I pick up ideas of what to write content on from here, there and everywhere.

When it comes to writing about problems that doctors and healthcare professionals face, there’s no better source of inspiration than the post work debriefs of my wife, a GP.

She tells me real stories that I know other people would love to hear about her experiences working in a deprived area.

And when my mind hears something interesting or insightful I think omg what a great illustration of some random concept that I’ve been reading about!

However, I have to snap back into reality and realise that none of the story can ever be repeated outside the circle of trust that the two of us have.

At least not without being completely adulterated to the extent of losing the original meaning.

It’s not just about maintaining patient confidentiality it’s the fear of being misinterpreted and the effect that can have. Especially as regulatory bodies seem all too keen to take public complaints seriously, even when they’re ridiculous.

When I first tried to find other doctors online that felt the same as me about leaving medicine I was terrified of writing the kind of things that they would relate to.

I always had that annoying patient in the back of my mind saying,

"how dare you! I was in hospital once and nearly died because doctors like YOU aren’t good enough" etc

But I thought you know what, I’m not out here trying to cause any harm or break ethical principles. I’m simply connecting with the thousands of people that get and appreciate what I’m saying.

I realised there are doctors out there feeling isolated because they don’t have anyone to debrief to. And those of us considering leaving medicine are even more isolated because of the stigma.

At the end of the day social media is a tool that can be used for both positive and negative actions.

Just like a hammer you can use it to bash someone’s head in or build them a house.

And when it comes to career change there’s many positive aspects of social media such as:

• Creating a community that saves you from isolation and stigma
• Building an online business
• Getting noticed by alternative industry recruiters.

The easiest way to do this is to be authentic – But too often fear of patients and the GMC stops you from writing and sharing your experience.

The Unwritten Rules

Don’t get me wrong there are many rules I don’t agree with in life but maintaining patient confidentiality and trust is something I don’t mess with.

Honestly, I wish it were easier. It’d be great if you could just record a video after a bad day, vent, and post it without fear of being crucified. But for now, you need a workaround.

Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up over the past year or so.

Don’t assume that your post is going to go viral

This is the only way a patient or their family will see it realistically. There’s much more chance that no one at all sees it. So try not to let that fear of discovery hold you back.

Write to one person

Write as if you’re speaking directly to one person. When I write I’m speaking to You. A fellow healthcare professional who understands exactly what I’m talking about. This mindset shift removes the headache of having to try and please everyone.

Keep details vague or change them

You can keep the original story intact this way. The trick is for there to be enough plausible deniability for the patient to think you’re talking about someone else.

Change descriptive details of the scene or patient features that could identify them. For example you could say the patient stared at me with piercing blue eyes, when in reality the patient has brown eyes.

Even if they do end up reading it, there's enough of a difference to make them think you could be talking about something else.

Stick to the positive

1. When you’re writing always think about the positive impact sharing the post might have on someone reading.

2. Try sharing stories that frame the patient in a positive light overall.

3. If you criticise, criticise their behaviour not them as a person. Understanding and explaining the reason behind a negative behaviour makes it less personal. Its also more interesting and educational than just calling someone a dickhead.

4. Use their behaviour to demonstrate a symptom of a wider problem that people can relate to.

5. Show how what you’ve learnt from their negativity is going to contribute towards future positivity.

Avoid dehumanising patients.

Refer to them as people rather than just their symptoms or diagnosis.

Try not to directly quote patients, unless its a positive interaction

Its likely they won't remember exactly what they've said. But paraphrasing is abit safer to avoid triggering their memory if its something particularly unusual.

Use memes to convey a message or context instead of describing it.

The Hidden Cost of Silence

The inability to express ourselves openly adds to the burnout and dissatisfaction that so many doctors already feel.

We’re forced to suppress our frustrations, to pretend we’re unaffected, to keep our experiences to ourselves. And this lack of creative or emotional release takes a toll.

Of course, doctor-patient confidentiality is important. No one is arguing against that.

But the broader issue is that doctors are human too. And humans need outlets for expression.

Being constantly afraid of sharing genuine experiences only deepens the isolation many of us feel and prevents us using social media to open doors to more fulfilling careers.

That’s all for now

Stay Healthy

Lewis