In a story recently posted on CNN, Doctors drinking while on a mission trip may be in hot water for acting improperly. Pictures of doctors posing while treating patients were posted without written consent of the patients. Some of which also showed patients wearing little clothing over their private parts. Other photos showed the same group of doctors drinking various alcoholic beverages in their work attire, which was then compared to a police officer consuming alcohol while in uniform. And still yet, photos of the same group of well trained doctors were smiling as they held guns owned by soldiers. These were all posted on a very popular social networking site. An ethics committee is now deciding whether disciplinary actions will be pursued against the group, and some have already been fired.

The doctors deserve the benefit of the doubt in this situation. I felt like more information should have been provided as to what the doctors were doing when they were photographed.

My first reaction to the story was to wonder if the doctors were on duty at the time the photos were taken and whether or not they were to return to duty the next day. On one hand, if their shift was over and they were just relaxing after a hard day, I can understand why they might have felt the need for a friendly get together. On the other, I am appaled that they would pose with guns and big smiles. It is also bizarre that they would think to ever post a picture of a patient without securing permission. Doctors who are trained to save peoples lives should definitely have more respect for their patients privacy. Facebook can be a great way to show people what you are doing to help others, especially in a devastated country. By posting these kind of pictures, I feel like their purpose is cheapened in some way.

I still feel as though the doctors should be given a chance to tell their side of the story, but there is no excuse for them violating the rights of others by showing their pictures without permission.
When they took their oath to save lives and do right by their patients, I don't think they ever expected to end up in a situation like this. Hindsight is 20/20, but forethought is priceless!