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No Laughing Matter

Dec 11, 2017

The Situation

Last spring, the College received a report about the conduct of a physiotherapist who’d violated a patient’s privacy. Without his knowledge or consent, the physio used her personal cell phone to record a video of her patient completing his physiotherapy exercise program. She then shared the video with a colleague; the PT was amused by the way her patient spoke.

In her written submission to the College, the PT recognized her actions were unprofessional. She indicated that she was terribly remorseful and ashamed of the poor decision she had made. She regretted her lapse in judgment.




The Standard

Regulated healthcare professionals uphold patients’ rights to confidentiality, privacy and dignity. These requirements are clearly set out in the College’s Code of Ethics, the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada, the Health Care Consent Act and Personal Health Information Protection Act.

The physiotherapist acknowledged that as a regulated health care professional, she must be committed to the best interests of clients and society through ethical practice, support of profession-led regulation, and high standards of behaviour.  She acknowledged her patient’s dignity and respect may have been jeopardized.


The Outcome

This is serious. In recording a video of her patient without his knowledge or consent, for purposes unrelated to the delivery of healthcare, the physio violated her professional obligations.

The physiotherapist has since received counselling. She says it has helped her develop strategies for dealing with her stress.

The PT claims she has insight into the gravity of the matter, and has taken steps to prevent it from happening again, but her conduct mandates a strong reaction. She’ll appear before a Panel of the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee to receive a caution.
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  1. Mansi Patel | Oct 13, 2023
    I have seen that most patients like to use their own devices to video tape for HEP. I think we should always encourage patients to use their own devices to even prevent any perceived privacy breach for professionalism. 
  2. Marcelle Fujimaki | Oct 09, 2020

    It was well said by the College what are our options when it comes to videotape a home exercise program. Thank you for clarifying what is the best approach. Patients find it very helpful to take home a video with explanation and a demo on home exercise. It helps them to remind the FITT for the exercises. Now I know the steps: explanation, consent, copy to the patient and records and finally delete the original at the end.

    Good post everyone.

  3. Marcelle Fujimaki | Oct 09, 2020

    I totally understand your ideas Ahsan, as we sometimes need to videotape an exercise program for the patients to take home and watch whenever needed for instructions on how to correctly perform them. Patients find it very helpful. I think that regardless of the device we should always ask for consent, explain reasons why you are videotaping and keep a copy on the records (personal health information). And if you videotape it from your phone/laptop, delete it after making a copy of it for both the patient and records.

    Good post.

  4. The College | Mar 26, 2018

    Comment: Is it ok to video a home exercise program for a patient if:

    a) consent is given and the patient's phone or lap top is used to record the session or b) we record it with our lap top/phone with permission and  explain that we will give the patient a copy on a USB  and then destroy our original video?  

    Answer Yes. You can video a treatment session or home exercise program for a patient.   

    Regardless of the device used, if you are videotaping a patient, the recording​ becomes personal health information. You will need the patient's consent to video them and you will need to include a copy of the video in the patient's record.

    Take precautions to keep the information safe from theft, loss or unauthorized access. If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the College Practice Advisor who is happy to help you out at practiceadvice@collegept.org or call 647-484-8800 or 1-800-583-5885 ext. 241      

  5. Catherine MacLeod | Mar 25, 2018

    Is it ok to video a home exercise program for a patient if:

    a) consent is given and the patient's phone or lap top is used to record the session or

    b) we record it with our lap top/phone with permission and  explain that we will give the patient a copy on a USB  and then destroy our original video?

  6. ahsan | Feb 14, 2018
    NIce post

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