This week, the NYTimes posted an article regarding unprofessional online behavior from medical students. Having gone to medical school, I see nothing surprising about pre-professionals using profanity or abusive language. As as college student, I viewed medical students as a pristine coterie of refined intellectuals–in retrospect, they are no different from any other graduate student in a similar age group.

The fact is that the majority of medical students are young adults who are likely halfway through maturity. They have been wildly successful in earlier life, and have managed to sidestep many consequences of inappropriate behavior through intellect. Some, fresh out of college, have never held a real job. Others have fed off the silver-platter, growing up in families of wealth or power. This group, regardless of their lineage, tries to blend into their socially acceptable age group.

This translates to posting their thoughts on Facebook, mySpace, or any other online social networking group. Like to whine about how your clinic patients irritate you on your Facebook wall? Probably not a great idea.  What about posting hilarious but true information about your hospital on your blog? <grin> Just remember, there are consequences to all of your actions…

medicine, misc humor