Pediatricians, what are your thoughts on patients filming you while you work?

[Giic]

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Okay so..... this is the era of technology and social media.

I was sedating a toddler, and the parents were very nervous. I did allow them to stay in the room. At some point, without my knowledge, the father pulled out his phone and started videoing everything that I and sedation team were doing. I didn't even realize this till much later, after procedure, when the child was waking up. When I did finally look up at him, I politely said that I was uncomfortable with being filmed. He stopped. The nurses later told me that he had been filming for a long time before I noticed. Forget that I was having a bad hair day and also a bad clothes day - those weren't the issue - I actually think being aware of a camera reduces my effectiveness, because I become self-conscious. Over the years, I can think of many times when families took pictures of me (without my permission) as I examined their kid. I never had a problem with this. But a video? Hmm.

So my question is this: In this era of social media and people demanding body-cameras for cops, are physicians soon going to have to get comfortable with doing everything on camera? Including maybe even surgery? Maybe what happens in the O.R. would no longer stay in the O.R.

Thoughts?

 

[Rumalum]

At my hospital, family is told to leave during procedures. They're told it's to keep the area as sterile as possible but we all know it's about keeping the lawyers away

 

[jonb12997]

A friend of mine had a dad try to video tap their son's circ one time... She had a very good well experienced NICU nurse with her who stopped that quick!

 

[Stitch]

Hospitals should have a defined policy on this and in general patients should not be recording anything. The liability risk is insane. For some procedures, I don't have any issues with the family staying as long as they stay out of the way. If it's a sterile procedure like a central line, the answer is no, though LPs I'm fine with. If staff see someone recording, they should politely ask the person to stop with the simple explanation that it's against hospital policy. If the family refuses, they have to leave. If it's going to fight, then I'd offer to find them care elsewhere.

 

[Giic]

I guess my question was more about being filmed - rather than sterile procedure vs. not. This was not a sterile procedure. And this was not a procedure where a parent would normally be asked to leave. In fact, my question covers whether you would allow patients to record you, period (i.e. even doing a physical exam on their child).
What I have found is- sometimes families just want to be able to say which doctor it was who told them A or B, or which nurse told them a medication needed to be stopped, or whatever.
I worked with a nurse who used to be livid whenever her picture was taken by a family, e.g. while trying to place a peripheral IV.

 

[Stitch]

I guess my question was more about being filmed - rather than sterile procedure vs. not. This was not a sterile procedure. And this was not a procedure where a parent would normally be asked to leave. In fact, my question covers whether you would allow patients to record you, period (i.e. even doing a physical exam on their child).
What I have found is- sometimes families just want to be able to say which doctor it was who told them A or B, or which nurse told them a medication needed to be stopped, or whatever.
I worked with a nurse who used to be livid whenever her picture was taken by a family, e.g. while trying to place a peripheral IV.

Sorry, I focused on the procedure, but I feel the same way about recording in general. It shouldn't be allowed and I think makes you quite vulnerable. If you personally are okay with it, I guess that's fine, but would check hospital policy. If the family is covert about it, as you described, then I'd be pretty pissed. I usually encourage families to take notes if they need to and will help them with terms and such.

 

[mvenus929]

I get self conscious doing procedures when there is anyone else there with me, even if it's an attending giving me feedback on my technique. I used to be a phlebotomist and I hated doing blood draws with any sort of family members in the room, because they would all get quiet and just watch me. It was unnerving, and I felt my performance got worse because of it. I'm generally okay with parents taking pictures of me and their child when I'm not actively doing something, but for the benefit of the child, I need to be focused on them, and not on the camera that is watching me.