With the rise of “POV” and “Life as a…” content, some have taken it too far, leading to unethical acts in the medical field. Juilliana Villafuerte, now ridiculed as the “Flatline Queen,” and another intern-student who filmed a CPR session have brought this troubling trend into the spotlight.
Let’s delve into the insights and opinions of medical students regarding the issue.
Nicole Gripo, 21, MedTech student
Gripo, currently interning, finds this case particularly relevant to her own experience. She shares that using phones or any gadgets is strictly prohibited in sections like microbiology, hematology, clinical microbiology, and blood bank. Vlogging is especially prohibited. If caught using a phone, interns face make-up duties, demerits, and their gadgets are confiscated until their duty is completed.
At her internship facility, taking pictures that reveal patient identities—even in hallways—is strictly prohibited. Gripo emphasized that any breach of this privacy rule results in serious consequences, underscoring the facility’s commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality.
“Wala syang compassion at pake sa mga patients nya, ginagawa nya lang content. Dinidiscuss naman sa kanila siguro yung code of ethics pero unbothered lang talaga sya kaya wala siyang pakialam para lang may ma-content [She has no compassion or concern for her patients; she’s only focused on creating content. They probably discuss the code of ethics with her, but she’s completely indifferent and doesn’t care as long as she has something to post],” she said.
At the same time, Gripo expressed shock and confusion over how the intern could find time to set up a camera while a patient was dying. She remarked that the creator should have been focused on reviving the patient instead.
“Super disrespectful sa patient pati sa family nung patient, idk [i don’t know] if may consent ba yan or wala pero imagine nakita nung family yung nangyayari tas inuna pa nung intern hugutin yung phone nya at magset-up bago mag CPR [It’s extremely disrespectful to the patient and their family. I don’t know if there was consent or not, but just imagine if the family saw what was happening and the intern prioritized pulling out their phone and setting it up before starting CPR.]”
Loren Grace Coo, 23, MedTech student
Coo, a MedTech student, emphasized that using gadgets during laboratory work is strictly prohibited because they handle specimens. “There’s a tendency kasi na ma-contaminate [to become contaminated] yung mga samples and mag false positive/negative, same when we are dealing with our patients, we are not allowed na mag-record sa kanila [to record them] since nabebreak [it breaks] ang rule sa privacy and it’s confidential,” she explained, highlighting the importance of maintaining strict protocols in the lab.
She also mentioned that the recent issue is incredibly disappointing and concerning, given that they are rigorously taught the do’s and dont’s of their duties in the laboratory. “I just hope na mabigyan ng actions ang nangyare para hindi na ulit maulit [I just hope that action will be taken on what happened so it doesn’t happen again],” she added.
Katrina Macalawa, 20, Nursing student
According to her, as a nursing student, professionalism is crucial in the medical field. She criticized both the “Flatline Queen” and the intern for their actions, describing them as pure foolishness. She expressed her irritation and disappointment, emphasizing, “It’s a basic principle in the medical field to prioritize privacy and ensure everyone’s safety. Whether a patient’s face is visible or not, respect is essential.”
She also added that such behavior undermines the credibility of medical professionals and distracts from the core mission of patient care, “Hindi ‘man lang niya inisip na kung siya kaya yung nag flat line gusto ba niyang i-video pa yun? When you’re in the medical field kasi dapat professional ka [She didn’t even consider that if she were the one who had flatlined, would she want it to be recorded? When you’re in the medical field, you should be professional.]”
“Wake up sis wala ka sa Greys Anatomy [Wake up, sis, you’re not in Grey’s Anatomy],” she concluded.
Many are also debating that privacy and ethics are fundamental concepts taught in medical and related fields, so individuals should be well aware of these principles. Chelsea Leonardo, 21, a student, also shared her perspective, “For me, sobrang off-putting ng actions na ginagawa ng mga content creators especially if it involves risk sa privacy of those involved. Sobrang disrespectful niya in so many ways and it makes me question their learnings talaga kasi in any course lalo na sa medical field, laging tinuturo ang ethics [The actions of content creators are extremely off-putting, especially when they involve risks to the privacy of those involved. It’s incredibly disrespectful in many ways and makes me question their education, because in any course, especially in the medical field, ethics are always taught.]”
Jessica Legaspi, 21
Likewise, Jessica Legaspi, 21, a student, emphasizes that both the intern and the doctor are adults who should be well aware of the rules in their professions. They also know that their ‘content’ could be viewed by minors. “May mga minor na pwedeng makapanuod. Kids might think na tama lang yung ginagawa nila which is scary [There are minors who might watch. Kids might think that what they are doing is acceptable, which is scary],” she said.
She added, “Therefore, they need to be mindful of what they post. They’re endangering the identity din ng patients nila and some will most likely lose their trust sa mga nagtatrabaho [in those who are working] in the field .”
Ultimately, those working in healthcare should be mindful of their actions and the potential repercussions. Upholding ethical practices and demonstrating respect for patient confidentiality is vital in preserving the trust and integrity of the medical profession. These incidents not only jeopardize patient confidentiality but can also undermine the trust that is essential in the medical field.
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