A study of the personal use of digital photography within plastic surgery

The advent of digital photography has greatly increased the use of medical illustration within specialties dealing with visible pathologies. It offers improved communication between medical professionals, education and counselling of their patients and forms an important aspect of their medical records. With the increased availability of digital cameras there is an increased tendency for clinicians to take digital photographs of patients themselves. In doing so, clinicians take on the responsibility to act in accordance with the regulations governing this practice issued by the UK Department of Health. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of this practice by way of an anonymous questionnaire distributed to three representative plastic surgery units within the UK. It looked at the awareness of and compliance with the present governing regulations. The results showed that of the 60 distributed questionnaires, 30 of 42 respondents took digital photographs of patients themselves. Photographs were taken for the purposes of inclusion in the medical records, education, development of personal libraries and publication. Consent was usually taken but was often only in a verbal form. Processing, storage and security measures highlighted potential risks for breaches in confidentiality. Knowledge relating to the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, the Data Protection Act and the need for registration with the Data Commissioner when acting in a private capacity were often not known. This small study highlights a number of important points surgeons need to be aware of when taking photographs of patients themselves and makes recommendations for its practice within a plastic surgery department.