HIPAA Privacy And Ethical Issues In A Nursing Home

regarding who else is informed about it and what it is used for (Heath and Human Services Administration, 2002). There are boundaries set up by the HIPAA Privacy Rule based on an individual's medical records and consequences of violating any of these rules are also explained (Heath and Human Services Administration, 2002).
The main argument that people make against allowing cameras within private rooms of residents at nursing homes is that it is a violation of privacy for any other individual, whether it be staff or another resident, that may enter the room. One thing that HIPAA does is protect the identity of older adults in nursing homes and the privacy of staff and other residents. Residents in a nursing home need care from staff and other medical professionals and some don't want to be recorded. They may feel pressured and may feel that the resident is just looking for an excuse to get them in trouble. Staff, and other residents, may feel that they are being spied on and may feel like residents are eavesdropping on their work (Smith, 2007).

Nursing homes many times have to have residents sign waivers so that they can take pictures of them and publish them in marketing materials, etc. Residents would most likely not have waivers signed for other residents and staff who might be coming into their rooms. Also, the privacy of individuals is an ethical consideration to take into account and an individual could request that they not be filmed (Welsh & Colleagues, 2003). New laws in some states, allowing the use of cameras, has caused a lot of issues for hiring and retaining staff (Dreyer & Boyajian, 2011). Some staff members are concerned that things that happen, or decisions that are made, and caught on cameras could be interpreted incorrectly and be viewed as mistreatment (Dreyer & Boyajian,