Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
March 30, 2023
More and more doctors claim to be “filmed without their knowledge” in the office. Simple bad joke or more global phenomenon? Update on this new practice with Dr. Kierzek.
Filming your doctor during a consultation. Does the idea seem crazy to you? However, this is what more and more patients are doing, who then distribute this content on social networks.
Videos posted on TikTok
More and more health professionals are finding that they are filmed or recorded by patients in full consultation, like Céline Gorregues, midwife.
In forty-eight hours, the specialist has indeed surprised two patients filming her without her knowledge in full consultation. Videos, which were then posted on TikTok.
“More and more often, when I do an ultrasound, turning around to ask a question, I realize that I am being filmed“, regrets the midwife.
Since then, she has resolved to post this message on the front door of her office: “It is FORBIDDEN to film or record us during the consultations without our authorization.“.
While the episode might just be a bad joke, it’s actually a much larger phenomenon.
“Several doctors have reported to me that they have been recorded without their knowledge lately“, reports Jean-Christophe Nogrette, deputy secretary general of the union of general practitioners MG France, 20 minutes.
But how to explain this new trend? On social networks, some patients claim that it is the “only way to prove medical abuse“.
Others wish to share their intimate life in the office with their subscribers, or even question their community on the diagnosis issued by the doctor.
A damaged caregiver-patient relationship
A phenomenon that greatly affects the patient-doctor relationship according to Dr. Kierzek.
“We do not have the right to film someone without their knowledge. This is the basis of trust between caregiver and patient.“, he is indignant. “These recordings unfortunately reflect the society of exposure, confrontation and power struggle in which we live. However, it is the opposite of a healthy relationship, which requires, in order to function, a good dose of respect and mutual benevolence.“, says the expert.
Already pressurized caregivers, who now fear being filmed.
“This is an additional pressure factor for healthcare professionals“, believes Dr. Kierzek. “However, the general public must understand that to be treated, you need caregivers. However, by dint of hitting the caregivers, there will be no more.”