Security cameras in nursing homes present ethical dilemmas

Some say the safety precautions may do more harm than good


Security cameras installed by relatives in nursing homes may do more harm than good, according to Clara Berridge, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Washington.

In articles published late last winter in AJOB Empirical Bioethics and Elder Law Journal, Berridge outlines the list of legal and moral issues that surveillance raises, according to an article on the University of Washington website.

Surveillance cameras record all of the activity in a room, including personal moments such as hygiene or dressing. From a crime-prevention perspective, those are times when a resident is most vulnerable, but there are privacy issues.

Plus, there is an issue of consent – not only whether the resident has the capacity to consent to being monitored, but also, in the case of two-person rooms, whether the roommate can consent.

Read the article.



May 16, 2019


Topic Area: Security


Recent Posts

Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


Cahaba Center for Mental Health Ensnared in Data Breach

On March 28, 2025, Cahaba identified suspicious activity in an employee email account.


Reframing the Construction Manager as a Community Manager

Managers must work with patients, community residents and other interested parties to ensure a smooth, successful construction projects


Health First Celebrates 'Topping Off' Ceremony for New Cape Canaveral Hospital Campus

Construction is slated to finish by the end of 2026 or early 2027.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.