Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine are questioning when it is appropriate for healthcare providers to Google their patients.
Maria J. Baker, PhD, genetic counselor, medical geneticist and co-author of a Journal of General Internal Medicine article on the topic, began questioning the practice when she Googled a patient and found evidence the patient lied about having cancer.
Baker and her co-authors called on professional medical groups to establish a formal set of guidelines about when providers should Google a patient and when they shouldn't to protect patient privacy and trust.
They suggest the following 10 situations warrant providers to Google a patient.
1. A patient needs to be contacted to be warned of possible harm.
2. A provider suspects a patient is "doctor shopping" or visiting physicians until they achieve a specific outcome.
3. A patient dodges clinical questions.
4. A patient makes claims about their persona or family history that seem false or unlikely.
5. A patient gives a verbal medical history that differs from the clinical documentation.
6. A patient seems urgent and aggressive without justified reason.
7. Information from other healthcare professionals contradicts information given by the patient.
8. A patient or patient family members provide inconsistent information.
9. A provider suspects physical or substance abuse.
10. A provider suspects suicide risk.
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