How to Be a Friend Who Is a Physician Without Being a Physician Friend

Abstract

As physicians, we are often asked for advice when loved ones become ill. Sometimes, the request advice is explicit; often, it is more supportive in nature and this may blur the boundary between being a friend and being a physician. Through various excerpts from social medial exchange, this narrative discusses the experience with a friend who was diagnosed with head and neck cancer during my Palliative Medicine Fellowship.

Keywords: Physician; boundaries; informal advice; interpersonal relationships; social media.