Doctors publish letter to CFM about restrictions on social networks

The Doctors for Life (MPV) movement released this Monday (18) a letter addressed to the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) demanding a position from the entity in relation to “false information” that has been disseminated by some newspapers regarding the banning of some posts on the social networks of medical professionals.

The MPV cites a report where it says that they are including among the prohibitions “the fact that the doctor advises the patient not to take a vaccine, whatever it may be, in addition to the contraindication of any treatment that is scientifically proven and approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa)”. And according to the movement, some newspapers also point out that “if the doctor fails to follow the recommendations, he may be reported to the Council and lose his professional registration”.

In the letter, the movement mentions that “the news does not correspond to reality and is not based on the guidelines established by CFM Resolution No. 2,336/23, which deals with medical advertising and advertising.”

According to the movement, the word “vaccine” is not even mentioned in that resolution. “It is alarming that erroneous and misleading information is being disseminated so widely, causing damage to the doctor-patient relationship and undermining society’s trust in doctors and medicine,” says the MPV.

The CFM resolution only prohibits the dissemination of a “method or technique not recognized by the CFM” or the “disclosure of untrue content”, without making any mention of the vaccine, as reported by other newspapers.

Doctors for Life also reinforces that medical professionals have “the ethical and legal duty to provide accurate information based on the best scientific evidence available to their patients, allowing them to make informed, conscious and consented decisions about their health”. “Misinformation and threats to doctors who rely on ethics and science to advise their patients are harmful and counterproductive,” he adds.

By citing in the letter a series of studies that “report serious adverse events and risks of death increased with COVID-19 vaccines”, the movement asks the CFM to “take concrete measures to combat misinformation in the media and protect freedom of responsible expression of Brazilian doctors”. “It is imperative that the CFM guidelines are clear and precise, reflecting medical ethics and best practices based on scientific evidence”, he reinforces.

“Our mission as doctors is to provide reliable medical guidance to our patients. We cannot allow misinformation and intimidating threats to undermine our commitment to the health and well-being of the population”, highlights the movement.

CFM Resolution

CFM Resolution No. 2,336/2023, which deals with the new rules for medical advertising, was published last Tuesday (12/9), after the council received more than 2,600 suggestions, held four webinars and heard from medical societies.

The new text, according to the CFM, allows doctors to publicize their work on social networks, advertise the equipment available in their workplace and, for an educational purpose, use images of their patients, or photo banks.

Regarding the use of images, the CFM authorizes the publication of “before and after”, as long as they are not manipulated or improved, and the patient cannot be identified. “Before and after demonstrations must be presented together with images containing indications, satisfactory and unsatisfactory evolutions and possible complications arising from the intervention. When possible, the treatment perspective for different biotypes and age groups should be shown, as well as the immediate evolution , mediate and late”, explains the council.

Among the prohibitions, in addition to the dissemination of untrue content, it is stated that the doctor cannot “behave in a sensationalist and self-promotional manner” and “practice unfair competition”.