Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Removal of Pap smear demo from Internet sought
THE Department of Health (DOH) appealed to a social networking site on the Internet to remove the pictures of a Pap smear demonstration.
In a letter to Multiply.com, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III requested for the removal of the pictures, which were posted by a user named, "sallydatgirl" entitled papsmear_day.
"It has come to our attention that videos/images of medical procedures are being posted on your websites without the consent of the patient," said Duque's letter dated April 29.
The issuance of the letter came in the midst of the rectal surgery scandal in Cebu that was posted on YouTube, a video-sharing site on cyberspace.
A check into the user's profile showed that the account's owner is someone named Sally Mercado from Bauan, Batangas. From Mercado's pictures, it seemed that she is a nursing student.
Duque said the posting of the pictures "appears to be unknown to the patient" which is a violation of the law.
"While we give prime importance to sharing of information and transparency of transactions particularly in government, posting of videos/images on medical procedures done on private citizens violates the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality," added Duque.
Likewise, the health department also requested the website's administrator "not to publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate materials of this nature."
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has issued a memorandum barring students taking health-related courses from bringing cell phones and video cameras while attending clinical classes.
The memorandum, signed by Ched chairman Romulo Neri on April 24, ordered medical schools to "ensure that the integrity of all activities concerning the exercise/practice of Related Learning Experience are properly supervised and monitored."
Nine medical practitioners, including some doctors of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, were investigated for violating ethical practices and recommended for administrative sanctions in connection with the controversial YouTube video. (FP/Sunnex)
