Employer used my photo without my permission on social media

[Guest915876]

My nursing supervisor approached me today to show me a photo that had been posted by my employers twitter account. The photo is of me doing a procedure on a patient while at the same time promoting said procedure. The parent of the patient apparently took the photo (unbeknownst to me) and submitted it to my employer. We have a policy of no photos/videos in patient care areas and families sign a form that they acknowledge this policy. Not only that, but the parent is apparently a physician assistant who also works for the company! My employer did not ask for my permission prior to posting this photo. Where do I go from here?!

[cleback]

Would you like it to be taken down? Or is it the principle that bothers you and you want your employer to know it wasn't appreciated? Both are valid but I think you should have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish by any action. For either one, I'd contact your media relations (or like department) who usually manages social media accounts and press releases.

[AxelNewRN86]

Either way I would reach out to your union rep- are you part of a union? Talk about your feelings and decide what is appropriate action

[klone, MSN, RN]

Sounds like facility-wide (re?)education is in order regarding your policies surrounding photos. The facility should be required to obtain a signed media release form prior to sharing any photographs of anyone (staff or patients) in the news or social media. I'm guessing that since it was not an official photo taken by someone while in the role of hospital representative, they didn't consider it necessary.

I guess I would approach it by contacting the hospital PR person, let them know you did not consent to that photo being taken or distributed, you would like it removed, and you would like ALL staff to be reminded of the hospital's "no photography" policy.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

The way the photo was obtained is wrong, but there is a possibility that your facility is allowed to use it. Make sure you didn't sign anything when you were hired that gave them the right to use your image in marketing communications. You do still have copies of everything you signed, right?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I would be upset too, especially since you didn't even know the photo was taken. I'd ask that it be taken down.

[Davey Do]

I would be upset too, especially since you didn't even know the photo was taken. I'd ask that it be taken down.

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[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

The way the photo was obtained is wrong, but there is a possibility that your facility is allowed to use it. Make sure you didn't sign anything when you were hired that gave them the right to use your image in marketing communications. You do still have copies of everything you signed, right?

THIS.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The way the photo was obtained is wrong, but there is a possibility that your facility is allowed to use it. Make sure you didn't sign anything when you were hired that gave them the right to use your image in marketing communications. You do still have copies of everything you signed, right?

This is my thought, too. Personally I'd let it go if I wanted to remain employed there, lest I be seen as a difficult employee.

[DowntheRiver]

To be in educational videos promoting procedures at my facility both myself and my patient had to sign our lives away. Seriously, it was like 2-3 forms saying we gave permission to have our image shared.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I had this happen with nursing school. they used a picture of me that was taken at clinical for some of their promotional material. Come to find out one of the things you sign at the beginning of the year is a disclosure saying they can use these any way they want to for their use. Oh well, guess I learned to read the fine print after that.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I left my abusive husband thirty years ago, moved a few hundred miles and changed both my first and last names. I was lucky that he never found me.

At my new place of employment, they wanted to use me in a training video and I flatly refused. They persisted, and I continued to refuse. Finally, my manager asked me why I was unwilling to participate -- most nurses who were asked were flattered. After I explained the situation to her, she understood. The policy about photographing staff changed due to her hard work.

I think the OP should ask to have the photo removed (if that's what she wants) and if there is a good reason not to want to be pictured in association with her employer -- stalker, abusive ex, witness protection or some other reason -- she should talk to her union representative about what else can be done. Once the photo is out there, it's out there, and if it were me, I would have been changing jobs, names and moving again.