Gifty Amoakowaa sues Peace and Love Hospital for installing CCTV in breast exam room, cites privacy violation
Gifty Amoakowaa sues Peace and Love Hospital for installing CCTV in breast exam room, cites privacy violation
One Gifty Amoakowaa has filed a lawsuit against a private healthcare facility in Ghana, Peace and Love Hospital, for infringing on her constitutional rights by installing surveillance cameras in rooms designated for intimate medical procedures, including breast examinations.
The legal action, initiated at the High Court, contends that the presence of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in such sensitive medical spaces constitutes a serious violation of her privacy, dignity, and confidentiality, which is fundamental to medical care.
Madam Amoakowaa is seeking the enforcement of her fundamental human rights under the 1992 Republican Constitution, citing Articles 15 and 18(2), which safeguard the dignity and privacy of individuals.
She has also referenced the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), particularly Section 167 and the Sixth Schedule, which underscore the right to patient confidentiality.
According to the plaintiff, the use of surveillance equipment in private examination rooms is both unlawful and emotionally damaging. She claims the experience has caused her severe psychological distress, including anxiety and trauma, describing the surveillance as a breach of trust and medical ethics.
In her petition, Amoakowaa is asking the court to:
Declare that the installation of CCTV cameras in consultation and breast examination rooms is unconstitutional and unlawful.
Order the removal of all surveillance equipment from such medical spaces.
Direct the hospital to destroy any recorded footage involving her and ban any future retention or use of such material.
Award her general damages for the emotional and psychological harm caused;
Grant legal costs incurred in pursuing the case.
An affidavit accompanying the suit outlines the alleged infractions and the legal grounds for each of the remedies sought. The application also requests any further relief the court may consider just.
The case raises broader concerns about patient privacy and ethical practices within Ghana’s healthcare system and could set a significant precedent for how medical institutions handle surveillance in clinical environments.
