Medical influencers – and the risks By Contributor 12th May 2021
An increasing number of medical professionals are using their social media profile to generate interest in topics, products, brands and services.
Dr Beth Walker and
Dr Ellen Walshe, Medico-Legal Consultants at Medical Protection, discusses the benefits and risks of acting as a ‘medical influencer’
An increasing number of doctors and medical students are developing a professional presence on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube with a growing proportion now held as social media ‘influencers’.
An influencer is someone who is able to use their presence on social media to generate interest in topics, brands or products. In some cases, influencers receive payment from brands or free products/services to promote, endorse or review in their social media posts. These ‘medical influencers’ are often – but not always – at a relatively early stage of their careers.