Arabic version: هيئة صحة الإقليم الشمالي تحظر النظارات الذكية في المواقع السريرية

According to ABC News, NT Health has barred staff from using smart glasses at all department clinical sites following an internal privacy-policy review prompted by a recent breach at Royal Darwin Hospital.

The breach involved medical observer Dr Neda Mogharehabed, who was visiting Royal Darwin Hospital during a three-day placement and posted images and videos containing confidential medical information of 12 pregnant patients to her 28,000 Instagram followers. It is not suggested that Dr Mogharehabed used smart glasses or a similar device during the placement.

In an email to staff, chief executive Susan Bowden said a review group had identified recording-capable wearables, particularly smart glasses, as an “elevated risk to patient privacy and confidentiality”. Personal recording-capable wearable devices cannot be used to record, photograph, livestream or otherwise capture patients, clinical interactions or protected information in clinical settings.

Ms Bowden said smart glasses or similar devices could only be used with explicit NT Health approval for a legitimate clinical, therapeutic, communication, accessibility, safety or operational purpose. Such use must meet existing requirements for patient consent, privacy, record security and management. She said technology could improve patient care, but patient consent came first.

The medical observer review group will continue examining the impact of emerging technology and privacy from a whole-of-government perspective. NT Health Minister Steve Edgington previously said the observership program had been paused and its policies were under review, while the breach had been referred to the NT Information Commissioner and NT Police. AMA NT vice-president Dr Dayna Duncan supported the ban, saying patient privacy and trust were essential to clinical care.