Warning over TikTok filming by hospital patients

Warning over TikTok filming by hospital patients

The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has raised concerns about patients recording their own medical treatments for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, warning that this behavior could pose risks for both patients and NHS staff. During the union’s annual conference, it was noted that an increasing number of patients are using their mobile phones to film procedures without seeking permission, potentially causing distractions and discomfort among healthcare professionals. Additionally, sharing these videos on social media platforms could compromise the privacy of other individuals present in the medical setting.

A therapeutic radiographer from London, Ashley d’Aquino, shared an experience where a patient’s relative began filming while she was trying to administer treatment, highlighting the inappropriate timing of such actions. This incident is not isolated, as other healthcare workers have reported similar situations where patients covertly record procedures without consent for social media purposes. The lack of permission and privacy considerations in these situations can lead to stress and uncertainty among NHS staff, whose names and job titles may inadvertently be exposed in online videos.

Dean Rogers, the director of strategy at the SoR, emphasized the importance of NHS trusts implementing clear policies to prevent unauthorized filming by patients. He stressed the need for healthcare professionals to assess whether such recordings violate patient confidentiality or hinder the delivery of care. Prof Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director at NHS England, underscored the necessity for patients to discuss any desire to record medical consultations with staff beforehand and ensure that the recordings are for personal use only. The inadvertent recording of other patients without consent poses significant risks to patient confidentiality and must be avoided, she stated

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