Facebook friend request from a patient

[IndyXRT]

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This is an odd question, but it happened to me this week: has anyone else had a patient send a friend request on facebook (or other similar site)? I really didn't know how to respond. I chose to politely say no. Any thoughts?

 

[dkpwalker]

This is an odd question, but it happened to me this week: has anyone else had a patient send a friend request on facebook (or other similar site)? I really didn't know how to respond. I chose to politely say no. Any thoughts?

You did the right thing. No worries.

 

[Blade28]

How did they get your email address?

 

[McGillGrad]

How did they get your email address?

You can search names, too.

 

[McGillGrad]

The best thing to do is to go to the privacy settings and restrict who can search for you. In fact, become invisible to everyone but your friends. That is the best way to avoid these situations.

 

[Blade28]

The best thing to do is to go to the privacy settings and restrict who can search for you. In fact, become invisible to everyone but your friends. That is the best way to avoid these situations.

Sage advice. 👍

 

[Dreaming]

The best thing to do is to go to the privacy settings and restrict who can search for you. In fact, become invisible to everyone but your friends. That is the best way to avoid these situations.

My main qualm about that is that old friends you may have inadvertently forgotten about will never be able to find you...

 

[McGillGrad]

My main qualm about that is that old friends you may have inadvertently forgotten about will never be able to find you...

You can always set the search to only allow people to message you, but not add you as a friend. That way you can still have old friends find you, but strangers will not be able to add you as a friend.

 

[Dreaming]

You can always set the search to only allow people to message you, but not add you as a friend. That way you can still have old friends find you, but strangers will not be able to add you as a friend.

Yup, but originally you said you were referring to the restriction of the ability to have you in the search results, and that was what I was referring to.

 

[McGillGrad]

Yup, but originally you said you were referring to the restriction of the ability to have you in the search results, and that was what I was referring to.

There are lots of different privacy settings. It is very dynamic and somewhat impressive. You just have to be familiar with the settings.

 

[Blade28]

There are lots of different privacy settings. It is very dynamic and somewhat impressive. You just have to be familiar with the settings.

Agreed.

It's just not worth it to have patients look you up.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Related Story:

I was searching for a friend I did residency with and came across this Facebook page entitled something like, "I love Dr. John Smith" (not his real name. It was created by a friend of hers after she was hospitalized and she talked non-stop about him apparently. It was cute (she was a teenager) but I have mine set that you have to ask my permission to add me as a friend.

Not that any patient would write a devotional page to me, but I can worry about it nonetheless.

 

[McGillGrad]

Agreed.

It's just not worth it to have patients look you up.

That would be an awkward situation. Something like having them call you on your private cell phone...lol

 

[McGillGrad]

Related Story:

I was searching for a friend I did residency with and came across this Facebook page entitled something like, "I love Dr. John Smith" (not his real name. It was created by a friend of hers after she was hospitalized and she talked non-stop about him apparently. It was cute (she was a teenager) but I have mine set that you have to ask my permission to add me as a friend.

Not that any patient would write a devotional page to me, but I can worry about it nonetheless.

If you keep using suck kick-butt avatars, I will be forced to start a facebook group about you..haha.. just kidding

 

[Winged Scapula]

If you keep using suck kick-butt avatars, I will be forced to start a facebook group about you..haha.. just kidding

I get bored with my avatars...

I loved my exercise kitten but Castro Viejo and the other surgery boys made dirty comments about him.😡

 

[Blade28]

That would be an awkward situation. Something like having them call you on your private cell phone...lol

Exactly! Big no-no.

 

[docB]

That would be an awkward situation. Something like having them call you on your private cell phone...lol

I know docs who have had to change numbers because a patient got it.