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The popularity of social media has grown substantially over recent years, and so has the number of cases when people undermined their reputations due to inconsiderate online behavior. Sofar, there has been a number of nurses who were fired over social media posts. This paper will discuss the 2018 case of a Texas nurse who revealed information about a patient at her hospital and lost her job. The ethical implications of her actions as well as their connection to the HIPAA and HITECH guidelines will be examined.
The Case of Texas Nurse
In 2018, a pediatric ICU/ ER nurse at Texas children’s hospital made a post on Facebook about a boy undergoing treatment at her medical facility. He suffered from a disease totally preventable through vaccination – measles. The nurse was an anti-vaxxer herself; however, she lamented about the fact that the boy was having such a “rough” experience (“Texas nurse fired,” 2018). Due to the rarity of the disease, the patient could be easily identifiable, and this breach of confidentiality was the reason for the nurse’s suspension.
HIPAA and HITECH Guidelines
According to HIPAA and HITECH acts, healthcare organizations can use social media platform for health promotion and direct interaction with patients, which may empower the latter in making decisions and taking care of themselves. However, the respective institutions warn about the possibilities of patients’ rights violations online. The case of a Texas nurse falls under the “Posting of any information that could allow an individual to be identified” category outlined by HIPAA Journal (“HIPAA social media,” 2018). Medical facilities are encouraged to train their staff on ethical use of social media.
Conclusion
Online platforms can be a powerful tool for the promotion of greater causes, for instance, safe health practices. However, health providers should be cautious when using social media even if to them, it seems that they disclose specific information from the place of concern and compassion. The case of a Texas nurse shows that one post can have major ramifications for a person’s professional life. In alignment with HIPAA and HITECH acts, health workers should abstain from using social media in a way that can be harmful to their patients.
References
HIPAA social media rules. (2018). Web.
Texas nurse fired for social media HIPAA violation. (2018). Web.
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