The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Monday cautioned healthcare workers against sharing sensitive photos and videos of patients, highlighting that such actions could breach the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA).
The DPA governs the handling of personal and sensitive personal data, and any violations could result in significant consequences.
“If the videos do not include details that can identify a person, its disclosure may not fall under the scope of the DPA. However, the NPC acknowledges the potential risks to individuals' rights and freedoms, especially for patients,” it said in a statement.
Early this month, a nursing student and vlogger posted a video that showed a patient flatlining through an electrocardiogram.
The video received flak from netizens for showing sensitive content and potentially violating the privacy of the deceased.
Posting such sensitive photos and videos while withholding personal information still raises “serious ethical concerns and undermines the trust between patients and healthcare providers", the NPC said.
“Ethical considerations are critical in maintaining the integrity of healthcare practices and protecting the dignity of patients,” it said.
Healthcare professionals and students are called on to “exercise the utmost caution when taking pictures or videos within healthcare settings and refrain from posting these in publicly accessible platforms.”
“Freedom of expression is not absolute and is limited by considerations such as the data privacy rights of others,” it said. (PNA)
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