The Order of Physicians has tightened the framework governing the media presence of practitioners. From now on, any participation in an audiovisual or digital program must be subject to prior authorization from the National Council, under penalty of breaching ethical rules.
The National Council of the Order of Physicians recalled, this Tuesday, the obligation for practitioners to obtain official authorization before any appearance in the media. This measure, announced in a press release published on the official page of the Order, aims to strictly regulate public speaking by doctors.
A procedure now mandatory
The president of the National Council, Rim Ghacham Attia, specified that doctors wishing to appear in television, radio broadcasts or on digital platforms will have to submit a formal request via the dedicated professional space on the official website of the Order. These requests will be examined before any prior approval is issued.
The Order also required that the number of the authorization granted be clearly mentioned in all content distributed, including on social networks. This provision aims to guarantee the traceability of interventions and to prevent any misuse of medical status in public spaces.
A recall motivated by a television slip-up
According to the President of the Council, this decision follows the recent broadcast of a program on a private channel which addressed psychiatry in a manner deemed contrary to the ethical and professional values of medicine. The Order believes that this type of abuse harms the image of the profession and can mislead the public.
The Order of Physicians reaffirms, through this measure, its role as guarantor of ethics and scientific responsibility in the media space. It calls on practitioners to demonstrate rigor and discernment in their public interventions, while respecting professional rules and the general interest.
