The ethical concerns of students posting a picture of placenta on Facebook
Johnson County Community college’s medical program has a solid reputation. Unfortunately, some of its students posted a placenta from a patient on Facebook, a post which just went viral. One of the students has filed a lawsuit that has sparked a big debate. Sadly, the students did not seek the patient’s consent to take a picture, let alone post it on Facebook. This was a flawed ethical judgment among the students who did not meet the minimal professional requirements that would define professional conduct (Rochman, 2011). In this regard, the act was disrespectful to the patient and irresponsible of the student, both professionally and ethically.
What other ethical dilemmas might students encounter?
The central dilemma facing medical students falls into three main categories. First, the ethical conflicts between the need for education and the right of the patient to receive care. Teachers have also taken advantage of non-consenting patients to allow their students to do specific learning procedures without patients’ knowledge. Second, some instructors may give medical students responsibilities above their students’ capability. Last, students’ dilemma stems from their instructors’ using procedures they deem substandard on a patient. These three are examples of ethical dilemmas that medical students may find themselves faced with once in a while in the course of their training and professional conduct as they learn and attend patients.
References
Rochman, B. (2011). Nursing School Says No Way to Placentas on Facebook. Time Health land. Web.