Get Separate Consent for Web Photos

You've been obtaining consents to put before-and-after photos in your photo books since you began practicing. But if you post patient photos on your Web site, have you updated your consent form to include a specific authorization for doing so?

While some "blanket" consent forms may cover you legally, many practices and healthcare organizations are becoming concerned about the ethics related to using a patient's photo or likeness online without obtaining specific authorization for Internet use.

Here's what you can do to be sure you've covered all the bases:

• Update your consent form. Make sure it clearly indicates what the photos will be used for. For example, add language that includes "electronic publications such as Web sites and PowerPoint presentations" if your current form says only "print publications."

• Ask your attorney to review the language to make sure it falls within state privacy laws.

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