Medical Justice provides free consultations to doctors facing medico-legal obstacles. We have solutions for doctor-patient conflicts, unwarranted demands for refunds, online defamation (patient review mischief), meritless litigation, and a gazillion other issues. We also provide counsel specific to COVID-19. If you are navigating a medico-legal obstacle, visit our booking page to schedule a free consultation – or use the tool shared below.

Online harassment of doctors is not a new phenomenon. Our long-time readers know this. What they may not know is that the tactics used to harass doctors online are changing. An increasing number of doctors are victims of “doxing.” It is critical doctors familiarize themselves with the practice. It is just as necessary for doctors to understand how they can protect themselves and their colleagues.   

Let’s start at the beginning. What is doxing?   

Doxing refers to the purposeful release of personal information onto the internet to harm the reputation of an individual. Celebrities and politicians are frequent targets. “Personal information” is often (but not always) a euphemism for anything you’d rather not see exposed online. And since most people have at least one skeleton in their closets, almost everyone is a potential target.  

But is doxing illegal?  

The act of doxing occupies a legal gray area at the federal level but is often illegal at the state level. And the methods used to obtain doxing “ammunition” (private information) are almost always illegal. Doxing has become the 21st-century weapon of the spurned lover, the irate ex-employee, the emotionally unstable and politically incensed.  

When used to maximum effect, doxing is venomous. As we stated previously, the most common targets of doxing are Hollywood celebrities and politicians. So why have doctors become targets?  

When doctors enter the spotlight, they are more likely to attract attention – positive and negative. The COVID-19 pandemic thrust many healthcare professionals into the spotlight. Some thrived. Some struggled. Most did okay. But an anxious public’s 24/7 scrutiny (and support) challenged everyone. Some doctors became scapegoats.   

But doxing isn’t limited to public figures. The following example is entirely fictional, but the lessons learned can apply to anyone.   

Let’s imagine a doctor is in a romantic relationship. To keep things simple, let’s assume their partner is neither a patient of the doctor nor are they a healthcare professional. 

For one reason or another, the relationship ends in a bitter feud. The doctor and his partner part ways, but both feel wounded. Before terminating their romance, the two (consensually) exchanged images of one another via text. Copies exist on both devices. The photos may be suggestive or explicit. There may be a recording of the doctor making a provocative joke. Or the content may simply be embarrassing.  

If the doctor’s ex publishes that sensitive media online, that is an example of doxing. 

Malice on the part of the romantic partner isn’t a requisite. Imagine the same scenario but pretend the separation is amicable. The doctor erases all traces of their partner from their device. Their partner does not – and not out of malice. They just don’t think to do so. If that device falls into the wrong hands, that’s an obvious problem.   

To be clear, this example isn’t to dissuade doctors from seeking romantic partners. But it should make doctors (and anyone else) think twice before engaging in any behavior that creates unnecessary risk.   

Our source material provides several examples of doxing events targeting actual healthcare professionals. We’ve summarized them below…  

In 2021, a psychiatry resident volunteered to participate in a marketing campaign. The campaign’s goal: Destigmatize the use of certain medications by healthcare professionals. The resident (willingly) published content that showed themselves taking medication designed to treat their mental health. Some members of the public questioned the resident’s ability to function as a healthcare professional. So, they doxed them and leaked their personal information online.   

In 2022, the co-director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s UW gender services had their personal information leaked online. It is believed a group that frequently conspires against advocates of gender-affirming care targeted the co-director. 

In 2022, a doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim had their personal information leaked online.   

These individuals were likely targeted because the perpetrators perceived them as ideological enemies. Mental health, abortion, and gender-affirming care are all highly politicized topics. 

What can doctors do to protect themselves from these kinds of attacks?   

We’ve summarized best practices below. We encourage our audience to share their own suggestions in the comments…  

Be mindful of what you share on social media and be especially careful when sharing personal information. This extends to members of your family. If a family member regularly posts provocative content, it may be wise to distance your online profile from this person.  

Practice good cyber hygiene; do not recycle passwords or use the same password/username combinations for different accounts and services. If a malicious entity can crack one account, they may gain access to others. Password management systems and two-factor authentication can keep your devices secure.   

Lock your smartphones and tablets behind a passcode. And create a multi-digit passcode that is hard to guess. Your birthdate is not a bulletproof combination. And if you publicize a marriage anniversary on social media, that combination should also be off the menu. The same goes for the birthdays of children, spouses, etc. These data points are easy to find online. If a device is compromised, a thief or hacker will try these combinations first.  

Beware of suspicious emails/text messages, and do not click on links sent to you by unknown entities. Many suspicious emails are phishing attempts in disguise. 

Audit content stored on a personal computer or smartphone. Delete photographs, text messages, and video media that could damage your reputation (or simply cause embarrassment). Empty the device’s digital trash bin AFTER you delete any suspect content. To drill this point home: Any media stored on a device can likely be restored even after it is deleted. Not every malicious entity has access to this kind of technology, but you should assume anything stored on the device is retrievable.   

When sending a “private” text message to a colleague or family member, consider the possibility their device may be within eyeshot of an “outsider” – such as a coworker or peer outside of your family or professional circle. Always think twice before sending these kinds of messages.  

These examples aren’t meant to inspire fear, but instead, urge caution. You never know when a need in your community will thrust you or your peers into the spotlight. Adopting these best practices now makes you a more challenging target. Many “would-be-doxers” are looking for easy meals. If a potential target doesn’t showcase the most common vulnerabilities, predators will likely move elsewhere.   

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Medical Justice provides free consultations to doctors facing medico-legal obstacles. We have solutions for doctor-patient conflicts, unwarranted demands for refunds, online defamation (patient review mischief), meritless litigation, and a gazillion other issues. We also provide counsel specific to COVID-19. If you are navigating a medico-legal obstacle, visit our booking page to schedule a free consultation – or use the tool shared below.

Jeffrey Segal, MD, JD

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Dr. Jeffrey Segal, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Medical Justice, is a board-certified neurosurgeon. Dr. Segal is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; the American College of Legal Medicine; and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society. In the process of conceiving, funding, developing, and growing Medical Justice, Dr. Segal has established himself as one of the country’s leading authorities on medical malpractice issues, counterclaims, and internet-based assaults on reputation.

Dr. Segal was a practicing neurosurgeon for approximately ten years, during which time he also played an active role as a participant on various state-sanctioned medical review panels designed to decrease the incidence of meritless medical malpractice cases.

Dr. Segal holds a M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine, where he also completed a neurosurgical residency. Dr. Segal served as a Spinal Surgery Fellow at The University of South Florida Medical School. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa as well as the AOA Medical Honor Society. Dr. Segal received his B.A. from the University of Texas and graduated with a J.D. from Concord Law School with highest honors.

In 2000, he co-founded and served as CEO of DarPharma, Inc, a biotechnology company in Chapel Hill, NC, focused on the discovery and development of first-of-class pharmaceuticals for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Dr. Segal is also a partner at Byrd Adatto, a national business and health care law firm. Byrd Adatto was selected as a Best Law Firm in the 2023 edition of the “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News – Best Lawyers. With over 50 combined years of experience in serving doctors, dentists, and other providers, Byrd Adatto has a national pedigree to address most legal issues that arise in the business and practice of medicine.