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breaching confidentality

hi
I have just seen a picture on instagram of a friend who has posted and accidentally breached confidentiality. I intend to message them when im home (battery has just died) but I as a patient would be fuming it I found this out and I feel isn't a mistake that can accidentally happen...everything you upload should be checked carefully. Do you think I should report it as well or purely just message them about it. it also has hospital name too.

Reply 1

krang88

Be a decent human being and tell your friend to take it down and say you have no desire to report her.

Reply 2

JamesL101

agreed. people make mistakes, once you bring it up hopefully they'll see the error of their ways and thank you for bringing it up (before someone else reports them)

Reply 3

Ghotay

It depends on the exact nature of the picture.

If it contains very specific details, or is a very egregious example of confidentiality breach - for example a photo of a handover sheet, or a photo in theatre holding a placenta (an example we were given in our medical school), I might think that it needs reporting

However if it a more minor issue and seems like a more honest mistake - perhaps for example a selfie in the doctors room and a corner of the handover board is visible, I would be tempted to message them and advise them to take it down and be more careful in future. Of course if things like that keep happening you might need to think again about reporting.

Use your best judgement

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by krang88

Be a decent human being and tell your friend to take it down and say you have no desire to report her.

as in my post, I wouldn't report without speaking to someone first... I just wanted to know if it needs reporting or not since it had patient names (3-4 of them) and a hospital name.

Original post by JamesL101

agreed. people make mistakes, once you bring it up hopefully they'll see the error of their ways and thank you for bringing it up (before someone else reports them)

no acknowledgment of what was done was wrong...

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post by JamesL101

agreed. people make mistakes, once you bring it up hopefully they'll see the error of their ways and thank you for bringing it up (before someone else reports them)

pretty baffled at the reply I got back to be honest.

Reply 6

Rennaofravenwood

Original post by Anonymous

pretty baffled at the reply I got back to be honest.

If you feel they aren't taking you seriously then definitely consider reporting them. If you've done your due diligence by giving them the heads up.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Original post by Rennaofravenwood

If you feel they aren't taking you seriously then definitely consider reporting them. If you've done your due diligence by giving them the heads up.

I will inbox you fi thats ok

Reply 8

Rennaofravenwood

Original post by Anonymous

I will inbox you fi thats ok

Sure, I'm not a med student though, it's just what sounds ethical to me from an external stand point.

Reply 9

JamesL101

Original post by Anonymous

pretty baffled at the reply I got back to be honest.

Using patient names and hospital name is just a straight inappropriate use of social media really... so if they are giving you grief for pointing that out to them, then they probably need to have a refresh on their responsiblities in respect to confidentiality.