Nurse under fire for posting photos of patient on Facebook

[Jar Jar Binks]

Nurse under fire for posting photos of patient on Facebook

2014/03/13 17:34:49

Taipei, March 13 (CNA) A nurse at a hospital in eastern Taiwan has invited accusations of privacy violation for posting photos of a heart surgery patient on her Facebook page.

In a front-page story published Thursday, the Apple Daily quoted an official from the Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation as condemning the act, which he said demonstrates a lack of empathy and respect for patients' privacy.

Although the photos were taken down within hours once the controversy broke, the Taitung branch of Mackay Memorial Hospital said it has instructed the nurse to submit a report on the incident and will hold a meeting to discuss possible punishment for her.

The photos, which depict the patient covered with bandages and intubated, were taken by the nurse on her mobile phone immediately after a four-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday, the hospital said after an initial investigation.

According to the nurse, she was only trying to share with the public the joy of the patient's rebirth and the hard work of the medical team. She has already apologized to the family of the patient for the controversy caused, the hospital said.

(By Tyson Lu and Y.F. Low)