'You Can Get Into Trouble For This': Kolkata Medical Intern Apologises After Posting Photo Of Newborn's Feet; Spark Privacy Debate

A medical intern based in Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH) in West Bengal has issued an apology after images and videos of her posing with newborn infants at the hospital began circulating on social media platforms. The posts raised concerns about patient privacy, consent, and professional behavior within medical environments.

The intern, known as Sudeshna Mondal, had shared pictures and videos taken in areas like the neonatal and delivery rooms. Many social media observers questioned whether images of newborn patients should be made public, even with the families' permission.

The controversy escalated after hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, known online as TheLiverDoc, criticized the posts and asked Mondal to take them down. He stated, “You can really get into real trouble for this. A letter to the National Medical Commission (NMC) with your details and this post is good enough.” In response to the backlash, Mondal removed the posts involving newborns and posted an apology on social media.

She admitted that she had obtained consent from family members and senior postgraduate doctors, explaining that she had taken the photographs as a "memory." However, following the widespread criticism, she deleted the newborn-related posts and vowed that she would not share such images again in the future.

In her public apology, Mondal acknowledged the emotional weight attached to newborn babies and expressed regret for her actions. "I completely understand there is a huge social and personal sentiment attached to a newborn baby, and I am really sorry for hurting it, as I genuinely didn’t know it wasn’t okay to do it – you observe and learn," she wrote. She assured the public that she had sanitized her hands, tools, and watch before entering the labour room complex to maintain hygiene standards.

Mondal denied claims that college authorities had pressured her to apologize. "I didn’t get ANY pressure/enquiry from my college authorities... I did it because I saw @theliverdoc Sir’s tweet and felt this isn’t worth my mental peace amidst my already hectic rotation," she stated. The incident has reignited conversations about patient confidentiality and the ethical use of social media by healthcare professionals.