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Trusting is crucial between healthcare professionals and patients, who must be able to trust that those involved in their care will behave professionally. With an estimated 83% of UK population using social media, you may also be able to access patients’ personal information online, just as patients can access yours.

440X400 Kathryn Leask 23 Higher Res
ByDr Kathryn Leask
5mread
Published28 January 2026
Trusting is crucial between healthcare professionals and patients, who must be able to trust that those involved in their care will behave professionally. With an estimated 83% of UK population using social media, you may also be able to access patients’ personal information online, just as patients can access yours. But it is ever ethical to 'google' a patient?
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This page was correct at publication on 28/01/2026. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers on 0800 716 646 123 test

Dr Kathryn Leask
Medico-legal adviser BSc (Hons) MBChB (Hons) LLB MA MRCPCH FFFLM RCPathME DMedEth

Kathryn has been a medico-legal adviser with the MDU since 2007 and is a team leader, trainer and mentor in the medical advisory department. Before joining the MDU, she worked in paediatrics gaining her MRCPCH in 2002 and holds a CCT in clinical genetics. She has an MA in Healthcare Ethics and Law, a Bachelor of Law and a Professional Doctorate in Medical Ethics. She is also a fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and has previously been an examiner and deputy chief examiner for the faculty. Kathryn is currently a member of the faculty’s training and education subcommittee and a member of the Royal College of Pathologists (medical examiner).

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Dr Ellie Mein
Medico-legal adviser MB ChB MRCOphth GDL LLM

Ellie joined the MDU as a medico-legal adviser in 2013. Prior to this she worked as an ophthalmologist before completing her Graduate Diploma in Law in Birmingham.

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Anna Baker
Medical Student fourth-year medical student at UCL

Anna Baker is a fourth-year medical student at UCL and the deputy editor of the RUMS Review, which she's been a part of since first year. She always enjoyed writing, an interest she developed further during her intercalated BSc in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine. In the future she hopes to continue doing medical journalism alongside clinical practice and to work with the World Health Organization (WHO).

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