Patients taking selfies in clinical areas

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2015

I've taken pictures of patients with their cellphones. As long as it is not me, whatever. It was back in the day for Myspace. It was pretty cool because he looked all bloody but it was from a small cut on his ear.

Elladora · Dec 20, 2015

As many others have said, they don't really bother me as long as I'm not in them. I work in a psych facility where cell phones are allowed. Our clients take pictures CONSTANTLY. They are supposed to ask permission before taking pictures of other clients, but that doesn't always happen either. We just try to remind them of the rules when we catch it and tend to not freak out about it unless someone complains.

As far as being the patient...my 16 year old took selfies when he was recently in the ER, mostly to gain sympathy from his girlfriend I think. My husband took multiple pictures of me when I was in the hospital. He said, and I quote, "You would never have believed how awful you looked!" (That's just the kind of relationship we have, he was completely right). Beyond that, I took a few when people would text and ask how I was feeling. A picture truly was worth 1000 words.

KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 10, 2016

I did NOT, however, nor will I ever, use duck lips. That should be illegal.

Now this is the real issue...

ComeTogether, LPN · Jun 18, 2016

Photo bomb?

quazar · Jun 19, 2016

A no selfie/no picture policy would never fly in L&D. We have a no video policy, and a no photo/video of infant resus or of genitalia, and no photos of staff without permission (or other patients, of course). People want to photograph the birth of their children at all phases of the process. And yes, I have seen many many women request vag pictures. Yep. Many times. If you look at photography of home births, that's pretty much the norm.

As for the rest of it, eh, it doesn't bother me. I agree with the PP who said we were just as annoying in the 80's, we just didn't have a way to document it so prolifically. I am thankful to the Lord above there was no social media when I was growing up, the photos alone are bad enough. :dead:

DragonflyLady17 · Jul 15, 2016

I work in mother baby- of course the baby first bath the family always record...I just hope my face is not in it. It's me explaining how to give a bath. I am pretty sure my work badge is in it. The kid years from now will see the nurse who gave it a bath. LOL. me!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2016

I can promise anyone this: if any security guard at a hospital ever tries to tell me to take pictures off my phone, demands I hand my phone over, tries to force me to delete pictures, or pulls any of the shenanigans described in this thread, I will sue that facility.

You all do know that you don't even have to hand your phone over to a regular police officer without a warrant, right? So why would some hospital think it's legal to give 'authority' (and I use that term loosely) to a security guard?

I'm active duty military and don't even have to hand over my phone to military police or any military criminal investigative body without a warrant! Places kill me with throwing around policies that they actually believe are enforceable - because this is not.

With that said, no - specifically in a hospital, I don't think you should be allowed to be photographed without your consent. But the problem is that the courts may have ruled (and I don't know if case law exists for this) that, just like shopping malls, hospitals are public places and one is not entitled to every protection of their privacy in a public place. Plus, a patient is NOT a covered entity: a patient posting a picture of himself or someone else in a hospital setting is simply not committing a HIPAA violation. My guess is these so-called polices are probably not truly enforceable.

Sort of like the "you break it, you bought it" myth or the "we're not responsible for damage caused by shopping carts" signs. Legally, you didn't buy it (stores have INSURANCE POLICIES that pay for that sort of stuff!) and they are indeed responsible (because they own the cart).

RestlessHeart · Sep 1, 2016

I can promise anyone this: if any security guard at a hospital ever tries to tell me to take pictures off my phone, demands I hand my phone over, tries to force me to delete pictures, or pulls any of the shenanigans described in this thread, I will sue that facility.
You all do know that you don't even have to hand your phone over to a regular police officer without a warrant, right? So why would some hospital think it's legal to give 'authority' (and I use that term loosely) to a security guard?
I'm active duty military and don't even have to hand over my phone to military police or any military criminal investigative body without a warrant! Places kill me with throwing around policies that they actually believe are enforceable - because this is not.
With that said, no - specifically in a hospital, I don't think you should be allowed to be photographed without your consent. But the problem is that the courts may have ruled (and I don't know if case law exists for this) that, just like shopping malls, hospitals are public places and one is not entitled to every protection of their privacy in a public place. Plus, a patient is NOT a covered entity: a patient posting a picture of himself or someone else in a hospital setting is simply not committing a HIPAA violation. My guess is these so-called polices are probably not truly enforceable.
Sort of like the "you break it, you bought it" myth or the "we're not responsible for damage caused by shopping carts" signs. Legally, you didn't buy it (stores have INSURANCE POLICIES that pay for that sort of stuff!) and they are indeed responsible (because they own the cart).

OMGunness........I wish I could like this about a thousand times. I couldnt agree more!!