Nursing Home Residents Are Losing Privacy Rights

Residents in nursing homes face a number of dangers. Constant supervision is required to keep residents safe and healthy. Residents rely on workers in nursing home facilities for some of their most basic needs. However, these individuals don’t always treat residents with respect, and an increasing number of nursing home residents are losing their privacy rights from intrusive staff.

Photos and Video On Social Media

Because of the nature of their jobs, nursing home staff members are often present with residents in very private moments. Unfortunately, an increasing number of nursing home employees are documenting these moments with cell phones and sharing pictures and/or videos online.

An analysis of reported incidents last year revealed a total of 18 instances where nursing home staff members shared unauthorized photos or videos of residents. Many of these photos and videos were vulgar and demeaning, showing residents partially unclothed, with soiled bed linens, and in the bathroom, among other private situations.

There have been a total of 65 instances of nursing home employees sharing unauthorized photos or videos of nursing home residents since 2012, and many of the photos and videos were shared on a social media platform called SnapChat. With this particular social media platform, content uploaded to the app only lasts for 24 hours before it is erased. This makes the abuse difficult to detect because the evidence is usually gone before anyone can take action.

Regardless of the situation, it is never okay for nursing home staff to take unwanted photos or videos of residents and share them online. Unfortunately, with the widespread ownership of cell phones, this invasion of privacy is a very serious threat to nursing home residents.

To best protect your loved ones from this type of privacy violation, check with their nursing home facility to ensure they have written policies and protocols in place prohibiting staff from using cell phones to take photos and videos of patients. If you believe a staff member has wrongfully taken photos and/or videos of your loved one, you need to immediately contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer.

Protect Your Loved Ones

An experienced Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer can help put a stop to nursing home abuse and help your loved one obtain compensation. If a nursing home staff member wrongfully took photos or video of your loved one, contact Lopez McHugh LLP today. We can investigate the matter and help you get justice. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.