Forensic Camera Systems and Small Print – What A Sexual Assault Nurse Should Know - Part 2
Let’s now look at an example more relevant to forensic nurses. We recently went through the entire User Agreement for a “Secure” cellphone-based forensic camera system and what we found will make you cringe. Rest assured, if you have a SDFI System, patient photos and video are protected beyond reasonable doubt. We can’t share your forensic files or information because we don’t have access to your files or information, period. Not even your IT department has direct access, nor should they. You are the only one who can, and *should* have access to your files or information. You can have this peace of mind with SDFI’s Security, along with our portability features, too! Here are some quotes from a forensic camera system’s cellphone app's terms and conditions regarding what information they may collect on their users and/or their patients:
- "We collect patient information..."
- "We collect...personal information in order to provide the services."
Here’s what that forensic camera company says with regard to sharing information with third parties:- “We may share personal information…PERSONAL INFORMATION MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A THIRD PARTY, LOCATED IN A COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME DATA PROTECTION LAWS as your jurisdiction…to collect, hold and/or manage the Personal…information collected within the App and/or portal through our authorized third- party service providers, as reasonable for business purposes, which may be located in a country that does not have the same data protection laws as your jurisdiction.”
- “We cannot guarantee that unauthorized access or use will never occur.”
- “In addition to other disclaimers contained in these terms, and unless otherwise stated in the applicable invoice, we do not warrant (I) that the use and operation of the App, Portal or services is or will be secure (timely, accurate, complete, uninterrupted, without errors, or free of viruses, defects, worms, other harmful components or other program limitations, (II), that we will correct any errors or defects in the app, portal and/or services, (III) that the app will be interoperable or compatible with your mobile device, other software, hardware, or any equipment, and we are not responsible for any losses suffered resulting from interoperability or compatibility problems, and/or (IV) make any representation regarding the use, inability to use or operate, or the results of the use of the app, the portal and/or content (including that the results of using them will meet your requirements).”
Kind of scary, isn’t it? Sometimes, the way a forensic camera system is portrayed on its company’s website is the polar opposite of its reality; the reality being how the implications of its every-day use will impact forensic nurses, and more importantly, their patients. We at SDFI-TeleMedicine realize that it may not be practical or convenient to read - word-for-word - user agreements, terms of service, or other contracts and small print you will come across on a nearly day-to-day basis. However, as inconvenient of an exercise it may prove to be, if educated by reading all the fine print before you sign on the dotted line or click on the “I agree” app button, forensic nurses will be more likely to make well-informed, intelligent choices and decisions. These choices and decisions will not only impact the forensic nurse but their organizations and their patients for whom they are responsible, in the present moment and perhaps, years down the road. If you have any questions about SDFI’s Forensic Camera Systems, Image Management System with its included forensic tools, SDFI’s Secure File Portal, or any other products or services we offer to keep patient information "Secure Beyond Reasonable Doubt", please contact us at 310-492-5372, or complete the form on this page, and we'll get back to you, ASAP!