Commercial filming of patient care activities in hospitals.
Commercial filming of patient care activities is common in hospital settings. This article reviews common circumstances in which patients are commercially filmed, explores the potential positive and negative aspects of filming, and considers the ethical and legal issues associated with commercial filming of patients in hospital settings. We examine the competing goals of commercial filming and the duties of journalists vs the rights of patients to privacy. Current standards and recommendations for commercial filming of patient care activities are reviewed and additional recommendations are offered.
Department of Emergency Medicine and Cedars-Sinai Center for Health Care Ethics, Burns and Allen Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Room 1110, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. geiderman@cshs.org
Joel M
JM
Geiderman
Gregory L
GL
Larkin
D000574:American Medical Association; D004989:Ethics; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007297:Inpatients; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D018156:Journalism, Medical / Q000592:standards; D008402:Mass Media / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D005791:Patient Care; D028701:Patient Rights; D018907:Privacy; D013690:Television / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States