NMC to summon nurse over alleged TikTok livestream of distressed pregnant patient

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is expected to summon a nurse for further engagement next week following a controversial TikTok livestream allegedly showing a pregnant patient in visible distress. The incident, which has triggered concerns about patient privacy, professional conduct and the dignity of people receiving medical care, came to the attention of the Ministry of Health after a post by a concerned individual on social media.

The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Tony Goodman, disclosed the Council’s planned action in a Facebook post on Friday, October 6, saying he had been reliably informed that the nurse was expected to be invited for further engagement. “The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is following up on the matter concerning this nurse. I am reliably informed that she is expected to be invited by the Council next week for further engagement,” he wrote.

Livestream sparks outrage A Facebook user, Dickson Assan, who reported the incident to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said he came across the TikTok Live session in the early hours of the day and was disturbed by what he witnessed. The host, who appeared to be a nurse, was broadcasting a visibly distressed pregnant patient, he posted. He said that during the livestream, the host was seen rubbing the patient’s back, apparently to comfort her.

However, the movement attracted inappropriate comments and mockery from some viewers, according to the user. He said the situation became more troubling when a viewer raised concerns about the appropriateness of the broadcast, only to be met with insults from other participants. The Facebook user also alleged that the host had displayed a Mobile Money (MoMo) number on the livestream and solicited contributions from viewers while the patient was in distress.

He questioned the conduct of a healthcare worker who, instead of protecting the privacy of a vulnerable patient, appeared to be turning the situation into social media content and an opportunity to solicit money.