A legal question:Take Photographs of Nurses?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 24, 2015

What are you thinking is illegal about someone asking you a favor? If they didn't ask, you may have a problem, but you are free to say no to any request.

Nicol07 · Nov 25, 2015

Thank you for your reply,

I'm reviewing CNO Standards & Guidelines and I asked this question to make sure that taking photo with patients is not perceived as a sign of crossing boundary in the therapeutic nurse-client relationship. I'm not talking about my personal values, I'm asking about policies, standards & guidelines of nursing in Ontario, Canada.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 25, 2015

To me, the intent of the boundaries issue here is if YOU were taking photos of patients for your personal collection. That's not only unprofessional, it's illegal. If patients are so happy to have you for their nurse and want to include you in a photo or two, that's not a boundary violation. Be happy that they ask permission. I recall a situation where a patient's family member took photos of staff providing care to a patient on several occasions and posted them on social media (with names attached) without the staff members' knowledge or permission. When it came to light, the people involved were told they had no recourse; the family member was asked to remove the offending photos but that didn't happen. All those photos are easily viewed even now. For me, THAT's a problem, but the road only goes one way.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2015

Not only is it legal, but to my knowledge, patients don't have to ask. I can only imagine how many delivery room photos I'm in, and I haven't worked L&D that long.