SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Medical Council (JKMC) has issued comprehensive guidelines to regulate the professional behaviour of registered medical practitioners (RMPs) on social media platforms, warning that violations could invite disciplinary action, including suspension of registration.
Recognizing social media’s growing influence as a communication tool in modern healthcare, the Council underscored the need to maintain professional integrity, protect patient privacy, and uphold the dignity of the medical profession in the digital space. The new rules are aligned with the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, and apply to all doctors registered with JKMC.
Restrictions for doctors:
The guidelines explicitly prohibit self-promotion, advertising medical services, or claiming superiority through online platforms. RMPs are barred from publishing promotional content, soliciting patient testimonials, or using paid methods to boost online visibility, such as buying followers, likes, or search engine rankings.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics may publish advertisements, but only within prescribed limits and restricted to institutional details such as name, services offered, staff, and consultation fees.
Focus on patient privacy:
The Council strictly prohibits the sharing of any patient-related content—images, videos, treatment outcomes, or testimonials—without informed and explicit consent. Even with consent, if the patient is mentally, emotionally, or physically compromised, the consent will be considered invalid. Online discussions of specific treatments or diagnoses have been disallowed; patients must instead be guided toward formal consultations.
Code of conduct online:
Doctors are advised to avoid content that discredits the medical profession or spreads misinformation. Sharing factual, verified, and non-promotional educational material within their domain of expertise is allowed. However, showcasing treatment results, surgical procedures, or endorsements of medicines, commercial products, or services is completely prohibited.
Direct or indirect patient solicitation through digital platforms is also not permitted.
Best practices recommended:
The JKMC encourages medical professionals to maintain decorum, respect patient-doctor boundaries online, and use social media responsibly—especially when it comes to public health education. All content must be evidence-based, impartial, and not designed for personal or institutional gain.
Strict compliance measures:
The Council has made it clear that violations of these guidelines will be treated as a breach of professional conduct under the Medical Council’s regulations and may result in disciplinary proceedings, including suspension of medical registration.
The directive—issued via circular No. JKMC/S/Social-M/2025/5723-5740 dated July 24, 2025—is signed by the President of the J&K Medical Council and applies with immediate effect.
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