Seriously? Why in the world would you think this is a joke?
I should clarify though since I guess it wasn't obvious. If you are posting purely professional stuff on Twitter (although I really struggle to use the words "professional" and "Twitter" in the same sentence) such as links to updates in cancer treatment, then yeah probably fine. The problem is when you start offering opinions, especially on controversial topics. Hence, the reference to social media policies above. You would think this would be common sense for MDs not to do this.
Have you noticed that "virtually all of these hundreds if not thousands of MDs" posting controversial opinions online all tend to post the same opinions? Wonder why that is? Could it be because one side controls the institutions of academia and social media? Hmm...
Yes. They are all idiots. Posting opinions attached to your name and photograph, "Radonc90, MD", online for all the world to see when you are an MD is incredibly stupid. You can do nothing but hurt yourself if you're honest, and those that do it purely to virtue signal and elevate their worthiness to their superiors probably aren't doing as much good as they think. All it takes is for one wrong re-tweet or one line taken out of context for the mob to turn on you. There little if any upside and monumental downside. Why risk it?
You're a professional. Act professional. If you ran a private practice, would it be appropriate to put a Bernie Sanders sign out front or leave pamphlets about gun violence next to the magazines in the waiting room? Put up a poster of Che Guevara in your office? Would you pin a MAGA button to your white coat lapel? Why is it ok to do this next to your online persona then?
Private facebook account only your friends can see? Sure, go nuts with whatever conspiracy theories you want. Twitter, you're an idiot.
Surprised this is controversial.