Capsule Commentary on Rocha et al., Opinions of Students from a Brazilian Medical School on Online Professionalism

Abstract

Commentary on Rocha et al's study of Brazilian medical student's views on online professionalism is offered. While the potential consequences of online behaviour may seem intuitive, the fact that these students condemned violation of patient privacy, yet did not find the case vignette depicting the posting of pictures of pediatric patients inappropriate is telling of incongruent judgment in this area. That students judged certain online behaviours more unacceptable from faculty also indicates a potential lack of awareness of the permanent and public nature of the online world and how inappropriate posts may impact a students career long after they have left the classroom.