Family Video Taping

[mydesygn]

I have a question that I have yet to find an answer to. We have a family whose daughter (pediatric, dev. delayed) suffered an IV infiltration. The family is planning to sue the facility and wants to video the nurses providing care. The facility forbid it, stating it was an invasion of privacy. However, after searching the forums, I found several threads of nurses working in facilities that allow hidden cameras (not just cameras monitoring the hallways or nurses stations for security reasons which is common at all facilities) but allowing families to tape staff inside the patient's room. Is this common for nursing homes? It seems that as a nurse I have the right to refuse to be taped -- although I know it is common "ambush" journalism technique.

[mydesygn]

I wonder how much an IV infiltration is worth? Isn't infiltration a known risk of IV therapy and didn't the parents give their permission for the therapy? I wouldn't get too upset at this point.People are always flapping their gums about " I'll sue the pants off you" every chance they get-until they find out that usually they don't have a case.And the big names with the deep pockets are at the top of the list-us lowly nursing staff aren't worth much..Taping of staff by families is alot different from employers taping their staff. (I don't like that either but I live in a right to work state-I have the right to work or not) Your employer is protecting you at this point-as well they should.I don't understand your post-do you think the family should be allowed to tape their dtr's care? Do you feel your facility was negligent? Did someone not follow the protocol and check that IV site? Shouldn't this kid have some type of port if she is going to need long term IV therapy? The family clearly has some issues and needs some major help-good luck...

Such interesting replies ....and funny. Thanks. I think the videotaping was to find something else since the infiltration already happened. The unfortunate thing is infiltrations can look really bad when they first happen and generally the swelling and redness go down and most families don't react this way. But with neuro delayed children who already have poor perfusion and muscle tone from being bedridden all their lives, the infiltrations can turn into a burn - this was the case. For me, I wonder if their is any known legal precedent that can be used to prevent someone from videotaping you while you work. This family was open and admitted that they were placing a camera in the room so it was easy to get risk management involved and have them refuse the videotaping on behalf of the hospital particularly since the family openly admitted that they were planning to sue but I had not thought about the camera phones and small hidden cameras that are so easy and affordable now.