Nurse Confesses to Misconduct by Sharing Organ Retrieval Surgery Photos Online
A nurse has acknowledged professional misconduct after sharing a photo from an organ retrieval surgery on social media. This incident was examined during a formal inquiry by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) held on May 22, 2023.
Details of the Incident
The inquiry revealed that the nurse had no clinical reason to capture the image or to share it on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. The NMBI counsel, William Martin-Smith, emphasized that the action breached the patient’s privacy and dignity.
On the same day, the nurse also posted a “selfie” in her scrubs from the hospital’s staff tea room, which raised further concerns. The identity of the nurse and her hospital have not been disclosed due to an NMBI subcommittee directive.
Background of the Inquiry
This inquiry was initiated after a formal complaint submitted to the NMBI by the hospital’s director of nursing. Evidence presented indicated that while emojis partially obscured the faces of other staff in the operating room photo, one male theatre nurse could still be recognized.
- The nurse removed the photos within nine hours of a request.
- No “likes” were recorded for the surgical photo, while the “selfie” received one or two.
- The patient’s family expressed feelings of annoyance and trauma upon learning of the photo sharing.
Consequences and Responses
As a result of the inquiry’s findings, the nurse received a final written warning and was mandated to undergo additional training. The hospital reiterated its policy banning phones in clinical settings and delivered a session about responsible social media use to its staff.
During the inquiry, the nurse expressed deep regret and referred to her actions as “a moment of madness.” She conveyed her gratitude for being part of the organ donation process, highlighting the teamwork and compassion she observed.
Context for Actions
The nurse’s solicitor, Thomas Cochrane, shared insights about her state of mind at the time. He noted that she was pregnant and dealing with significant stress, neither of which justified her behavior but offered context to her actions. He pointed out that the image was shared only with her friends on a limited-view social media story.
Mary Leahy, the inquiry’s chairperson, remarked on the distress caused to the patient’s family and highlighted the potential for patient identification given the rarity of such procedures. She indicated that the nurse relinquished control over the photos once they were posted online.
Next Steps
The subcommittee verified the allegations of misconduct based on the nurse’s admissions. A report with recommendations regarding sanctions will be sent to the NMBI board shortly.
