Dermatopathology and Social Media: Improving Participation by Increasing Clarity Open Access

In Reply.—We appreciate the kind remarks about our article and are glad that readers find it of value. We completely agree that more published research studies are needed to continue to demonstrate the value and utility of social media in the fields of pathology and dermatopathology. Peer-reviewed publications will further cement social media in place as a fixture of modern pathology practice and will hopefully help to convince reluctant pathologists that social media is indeed a legitimate professional activity. Patient privacy issues are among the most common concerns voiced by pathologists regarding pathology social media use. Obviously, respecting patient privacy is just as important online as it is in every other aspect of our lives and medical practices. Not only must HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) rules be obeyed, but even more importantly, the overarching ethical principles of patient privacy must be respected. In our article, we cited a recent publication by Crane and Gardner¹ that discusses patient privacy issues in comprehensive detail and provides a variety of specific recommendations to help pathologists ensure that patient privacy is never compromised when sharing images of a case on social media. To quote from their article: “Social media posts are, in fact, not materially different from traditional medical journal case report publications, so the same ethical standards should apply to each.” We would refer readers to their publication for more in-depth information on this topic.¹ We hope that their guidance will provide clarity and will soundly convince other pathologists and dermatopathologists that social media can and should be used in a safe, professional, and effective manner that will enhance education and collaboration among members of our specialty.