A former patient has filed a civil lawsuit against a Los Angeles-based medical center after her doctor and his assistant decorated her face and took a photo while she was unconscious during a surgery, Los Angeles Times reports. The state also investigated the case. The incident, as well as another involving a salesman taking a photo of a naked patient without the patient’s knowledge, has sparked concerns about mobile devices in healthcare facilities. “The idea that people are using their cellphone or even have one in the operating room is crazy,” said Deborah Peel, founder of Patient Privacy Rights. “It’s a massive security risk and incredibly insensitive to patients.” Editor’s Note: Valita Fredland, chief privacy officer of Indiana University Health, has written about healthcare providers and social media use in a recent Privacy Perspectives blog post.
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