A case of misidentification on social media has led to false accusations of racism against a respected physician at Dartmouth Health, the Lebanon, N.H.-based system said Feb. 24.
Otolaryngologist Andrew Spector, MD, was wrongly identified as a man who used a racial slur in a viral TikTok video, leading to threats of violence against him and his family. The situation prompted Dartmouth Health to issue a statement defending Dr. Spector's character.
"Dr. Spector is a caring person and a dedicated doctor whose work is focused on promoting the health, well-being, and safety of everyone in our community," Dartmouth Health said in a statement on Dr. Spector's provider profile. "This is an unfortunate example of how a rush to judgment without verification, followed by the viral spread of misinformation, can damage reputations and cause additional harm."
The health system is calling upon social media platforms, including TikTok, and their users to be more responsible in curbing the spread of misinformation.
See the system's full statement here.