A final year MBBS student filmed his “career’s first delivery case” inside the operation theatre at Srinagar’s prominent government-run Lal Ded hospital and evoked a stern reprimand from the J&K Medical Council (JKMC).
A doctor from the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, posted a video online as part of his vlogging to “celebrate” the patient’s delivery inside the theatre. The video shows images from inside the theatre and also parts of a female patient on the bed. “It’s our first patient’s delivery,” the doctor says in the video.
The JKMC has taken exception to the video. “Unfortunately, these vloggers are violating the sanctity of health institutions especially where privacy, confidentiality and autonomy of patients are utmost important. Any violation needs to be dealt sternly under ethics guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission,” said Dr. Salim Khan, Professor and Head of Department, Community Medicine Government Medical College, Srinagar.
Dr. Khan, who is also president of the JKMC, has issued guidelines for social media, “which has become a powerful communication tool”.
“We caution doctors against its misuse, particularly in ways that compromise patient privacy, confidentiality or autonomy,” Dr. Khan said.
Dr. Khan underlined that doctors should not indulge in advertising or self-promotion, compromise patient confidentiality or violate professional conduct online.
“The registered medical practitioners must maintain dignity and avoid behaviour that discredits the profession on any media platform. Showcasing of treatment results, surgeries, procedures or healed patient images or videos is prohibited,” Dr. Khan said.