Medical Photography Consent and Usage Policy
Purpose of Medical Photography
Medical photography at NSC is conducted by professional medical photographers. These photographs are an integral part of your secure electronic medical record. The primary purpose of these photographs is to document the clinical features of your skin condition, which assists your healthcare providers in monitoring your condition over time.
In addition to this primary purpose, photographs may also be used for medical education purposes with prior approval from NSC. In certain cases, photographs may be used in medical publications, such as books or journals. If this occurs, any identifiable patient information or characteristics will be removed to maintain confidentiality.
Consent Process
Your doctor or a senior nurse will explain the purpose of the photographs, and you have the right to consent or decline to their use. If you decline, no photographs will be taken.
Once the photographs are taken and added to your electronic medical record, they cannot be removed due to legal and medical record-keeping requirements. Additionally, once a photograph is published or made publicly accessible, withdrawal of the photograph from the public domain is not possible.
What to Expect During the Photography Session
Before taking any photographs, the medical photographer will verify your personal details and confirm the specific areas to be photographed. If the area to be photographed is sensitive and clothing must be removed, a chaperone will be present to ensure your comfort and privacy. If you feel uncomfortable being photographed by a photographer of the opposite sex or in a sensitive area, you have the right to decline photography.
Restricted Consent
Your consent will be sought for your photographs to be used to facilitate your medical treatment and as a voluntary contribution in the interest of assisting medical education and research. However, you may choose to give restricted consent, allowing your photographs to be used only for the primary purpose of your clinical care and not for any other purposes.
By agreeing to have medical photographs taken, you acknowledge and accept the terms outlined in this policy.