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Richard Evans, CEO of the Society of Radiographers, spoke on national radio stations this Tuesday (17 June) to discuss an SoR campaign aimed at preventing patients from filming clinical procedures without permission.
In a statement published on Tuesday, the SoR said that those who video their medical treatments to upload on social media could risk publicising other patients’ medical information. As well as this, patients risk compromising their own treatment and making staff uncomfortable and anxious.
While some hospitals already have rules preventing filming, the SoR is calling for policies across the NHS to prevent patients from photographing or filming clinical procedures without permission.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Evans appeared on a number of radio shows including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 5 Live, LBC and Times Radio to discuss the professional body’s opinion on filming clinical procedures.
Filming can cause issues in a clinical context
On LBC, Mr Evans was interviewed by broadcaster Steve Holden. When asked how big of a problem he thinks this is, Mr Evans replied: “Our members say that it’s an increasing problem.
“A lot of filming goes on, and posting on social media, and much of that is for fun and is fine. But in a clinical context, our members say that it can be problematic. And so we’re really just asking for hospitals and other health providers to issue firm policy to advise both their patients and their staff about what should be going on in this area.”
Mr Holden asked whether this was a simple fix, by implementing a no-filming policy in hospitals. Mr Evans acknowledged that yes, some hospitals do have a policy, and added that the SoR had issued guidance a few years ago about filming during ultrasound examinations.
“We’re asking those who don’t have [a policy] to consider issuing a policy, making that clear in waiting rooms and also to their staff so that everyone knows that this is the right way to go.”
The campaign stems from a motion at the SoR’s Annual Delegates’ Conference, in which Ashley d’Aquino, a Therapeutic Radiographer working in London, said that an increasing number of patients are choosing to film their own medical treatment for TikTok or Instagram.
Ms d’Aquino told the delegates that she had been approached by other members of staff, in her capacity as union rep, to discuss patients recording an aspect of their cancer treatment.