Cancel culture has made it increasingly difficult for individuals to work, live, and feel secure, as it can target anyone—especially professionals, including doctors.
At its core, cancel culture refers to modern-day ostracism where an individual is “canceled” online, often through social media, due to a perceived wrongdoing. People may unfollow them, cut ties, or stop supporting them in every way possible.
Prominent figures, particularly those with large audiences, are typically the ones most affected by cancel culture. Whether it stems from something they said or did, their actions are often believed to have harmed a person, group, or community, leading to widespread public backlash.
The effects of cancel culture go beyond just the individual; it can significantly impact their mental health, along with their friends, family, and supporters. Even people within the same profession may feel anxiety, worrying that their past actions or statements could be used against them.
How Are Doctors Affected by Cancel Culture?
Social media has reshaped not only the way we present ourselves but also the way entire industries operate, including healthcare. In recent years, many doctors have taken to social media to share insights from their daily lives, showcasing their interests in areas like food, fitness, or medicine to engage followers.
Social media platforms have proven to be valuable for physicians to connect with peers, share knowledge, and discuss complex medical cases. However, the increased visibility has also brought challenges regarding doctors’ private lives and public personas.
What started as a way for people to stay in touch with friends and share personal updates has evolved into a space where every post or comment can be scrutinized. Because digital records can be easily preserved and circulated, individuals—especially professionals like doctors—are often held accountable for things they posted years ago.
While accountability is a fundamental principle in the medical field to maintain public trust, cancel culture’s rapid judgments can sometimes do more harm than good.
How to Deal with Cancel Culture
If you find yourself becoming a target of cancel culture—receiving negative reviews, comments, or articles—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. However, there are steps you can take to manage the situation. BRANDefenders is here to help, offering support in removing negative content and providing tools to handle the effects of cancel culture.
Here are some key strategies:
Remain Calm
It’s natural to feel anxious when you receive a negative review or comment. However, it’s important to recognize that no doctor can please every patient. Not every review or post will represent a consensus, and it’s crucial to identify any recurring themes rather than focusing on isolated incidents.
For example, if multiple reviews mention being “disappointed” with wait times, it may signal a broader issue within your practice that can be addressed. Identifying patterns will help you understand which areas need improvement.
Read and Accept Comments
You can’t take action if you don’t know what’s being said. While there may be more positive feedback than negative, it’s essential to stay on top of both. Actively listening to patient feedback will help you prevent potential problems in the future.
Negative feedback often stems from a genuine issue in the patient experience. Keep in mind that for every one patient who leaves a comment, there could be others who share the same concerns but remain silent. Addressing these concerns will help you improve the overall patient experience.
Individual Evaluations vs. the Wisdom of the Majority
Doctors often fear that a single bad review will permanently damage their reputation. However, decisions from prospective patients are rarely based on one review. Individual evaluations are not always representative, but the collective judgment of multiple patients can provide a more accurate reflection of your practice.
As more patients leave reviews, any isolated negative feedback will hold less weight. The key is to encourage more patients to share their experiences online to build a fuller, more balanced representation of your services.
Look for Solutions
Once you’ve identified which aspects of your practice may need improvement, work with your staff to brainstorm solutions. For example, if high wait times are a frequent issue, consider ways to increase efficiency or make the waiting experience more engaging for patients.
Rather than taking negative feedback personally, view it as an opportunity to enhance your service.
Act Quickly
Small issues can quickly escalate if left unaddressed. Delays in responding to negative reviews can make it seem like no one cares about the patient’s experience, which can lead to further negative feedback. Prompt action shows patients that their concerns are taken seriously.
In some industries, customers expect a response within an hour. While this might not always apply to healthcare, long delays or complete silence are never helpful.
Take Notes and Learn
Negative reviews, even if harshly worded, can offer valuable insights into aspects of your practice that may need attention. Physicians should try to put aside emotional reactions and consider whether the patient’s complaint has merit—and if so, how to improve in the future.
Respond in Private
For particularly negative feedback, consider reaching out to the patient privately. A personal, empathetic response can sometimes turn a dissatisfied patient into a loyal one. While not all reviews can be traced back to specific patients, when it is possible, a thoughtful and sincere response can make all the difference.
Respond in Public When Necessary
Occasionally, satisfied patients will come to a doctor’s defense and challenge an inaccurate or unfair review. While doctors can’t always respond directly to complaints about medical advice due to privacy laws, they can offer general information about their practices or publicly acknowledge valid concerns.
If a legitimate mistake has been made, doctors can publicly apologize and explain the steps being taken to prevent the issue in the future. Patients value honesty and transparency, and admitting to mistakes can strengthen trust.
Consider the Bright Side
In today’s world, a healthcare provider’s online reputation plays a crucial role in attracting new patients. Even a single online comment—whether positive or negative—can reach and influence a wide audience. Interestingly, a few negative reviews can enhance credibility. If every review is overwhelmingly positive, patients may question their authenticity.
Negative reviews, when addressed constructively, can help bolster trust by showing that a provider is responsive and committed to improvement.
Conclusion
While cancel culture can be detrimental to a doctor’s reputation, professionals can safeguard their online presence with the help of services like BRANDefenders. Managing online feedback effectively is critical in today’s healthcare landscape, where physician ratings play a pivotal role in attracting new patients.
By remaining calm, addressing feedback thoughtfully, and taking proactive steps to improve, doctors can maintain and even strengthen their reputation despite the challenges posed by cancel culture.