Legal and ethical considerations in posting clinical images on social media

Authors

Keywords:

Clinical image, Confidentiality, Ethics, Informed consent, Medical photography, Patient privacy, Social media

Abstract

It's becoming increasingly common to spot clinical images being shared on social media sites like Facebook and WhatsApp. Patients in operation theatres, newborns in incubators, women in labor ward and even cadavers in Dissection halls are photographed and shared. Many of these images reveal the identity of the patients and are posted for non-professional reasons without their consent. This is an illegal and unethical act which is liable for punishment and deregistration from medical council. Medical students and doctors need to be made aware of the legalities and ethics of posting clinical images on social media. Sensitization should start right from the dissection hall and need repeated reinforcements right through the internship. This calls for the role to be played by all concerned stakeholders including medical colleges, Medical Council of India, Indian Medical Association and social media sites.  This would be a small step in restoring the crumbling doctor-patient relationship.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Zakirhusain Shaikh, Dept. Of Community Medicine HIMSR Jamia Hamdard

Assistant Professor, Dept. Of Community Medicine HIMSR Jamia Hamdard

References

Australian Medical Association. Clinical Images and the use of personal mobile devices: a guide for medical students and doctors [Internet]. Nedlands, Western Australia: AMA & Medical Indemnity insurance association of Australia. [cited 2018 Dec 21] Available from: https://ama.com.au/sites/default/files/FINAL_AMA_Clinical_Images_Guide_0.pdf

Bhangoo P, Maconochie IK, Batrick N, Henry E. Clinicians taking pictures - a survey of current practice in emergency departments and proposed recommendations of best practice, Emerg Med Journal. 2005;22:761-5.

Medical Council of India. Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 [Internet]. Delhi: Medical Council of India: 2016 Oct 8 [cited 2018 Dec 21]. Available from: https://www.mciindia.org/documents/rulesAndRegulations/Ethics%20Regulations-2002.pdf

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Electronic Health Records Standards for India, Standard set recommendations, ver 2.0 [Internet], Delhi: e-Health Division, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; 2016 Dec 30 [cited 2018 Dec 21]. Available from: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/17739294021483341357.pdf

Tortorice J. What is right and wrong when posting medical pictures online? [Internet]. CEUfast; 2014 Jan 24 [cited2018 Dec 21], Available from: https://ceufast.com/blog/what-is-right-and-wrong-when-it-comes-to-posting-medical-pictures-online

British Medical Association. Social media, ethics and professionalism - BMA guidance [Internet]. London: British Medical Association; 2018 [cited 2018 Dec 21], Available from: https://www.bma.org.uk/-/media/files/pdfs/employment%20advice/ethics/ethics%20guidance%20on%20social%20media%20final.pdf

Chu C. Doctors sharing images of patients’ conditions [Internet]. London: Medical Defence Union; 2014 June [Cited 2019 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/journals/good-practice-june-2014/doctors-sharing-images-of-patients-conditions

Twitter Media Policy [Internet]. San Francisco: Twitter Inc; 2018 [Cited 2018 Dec 28], Available from: https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/media-policy

Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Information Technology (Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information) Rules, 2011 [Internet]. Delhi: The Gazette of India; 2011 Apr 11 [Cited 2018 Dec 28] Available from: http://meity.gov.in/sites/upload_files/dit/files/GSR313E_10511(1).pdf

Firstpost staff. Where are the ethics? Surgeon posts pictures of patient’s internal organs on Facebook [Internet]. Mumbai: Network 18; 2015 March 30 [Cited 2019 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.firstpost.com/india/ethics-surgeon-posts-pictures-patients-internal-organs-facebook-2179891.html

Salter J. Nurses posts brain surgery pictures on Facebook [Internet]. London: Telegraph Media Group; 2008 Aug 19 [cited 2019 Feb 15] Available from: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2583411/Nurses-posts-brain-surgery-pictures-on-Facebook.html

Gibson M. Nursing Students Expelled for Posting Photo of a Placenta On Facebook [Internet]. New York: Time Inc; 2011 Jan 4 [cited 2019 Feb 15]. Available from: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/04/nursing-students-expelled-for-posting-photo-of-a-placenta-on-facebook/

Carey A. Hospital stands down five medical professionals over ‘embarrassing’ social media blunder [Internet]. News Corp Australia; 2018 Aug 3 [cited 2019 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/hospital-stands-down-five-medical-professionals-over-embarrassing-social-media-blunder/news-story/62b5adb05be63d1194cfe6c5141b8c86

Downloads

Published

2019-03-11

How to Cite

Shaikh, Z. (2019). Legal and ethical considerations in posting clinical images on social media. Research and Humanities in Medical Education, 6, 43–48. Retrieved from https://rhime.in/ojs/index.php/rhime/article/view/201

Issue

Section

Perspective