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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should i consent for my child's images to be used in research?

63 replies

SmallMexicanChihuahua · 18/03/2022 14:11

My 8-week-old son is currently being treated in hospital for an infection. It's apparently very rare and the doctors here have never treated this type of infection in a baby.

Yesterday the consultants were around to discuss treatment and asked if I'd be happy for images of the infected area (his head) to be added to his record and shared with obstetricians to help in future cases like this. I said yes, naively assuming that it would only be at a local level.

They've now brought a consent form for me to sign and they've pre-ticked all 3 areas of consent for using the images:

  • as part of his records;
  • for medical teaching, e.g. lectures, exhibitions, medical videos;
  • for publication in textbooks, journals, medical articles or on the internet.

I looked up the doctor whom I'd be giving this consent, and his name is already on several articles where I can see photos of the children subject of the article: only a small black rectangle is used to cover the eyes but otherwise all features visible.

I'm now not sure if I want to consent to this. Most of the images (they asked for photos from our devices, they haven't actually taken their own as far as I know) include my son's face. I don't know if he'd be ok with this when he grows up, he may feel we've betrayed him by consenting to this. I feel uneasy that this wasn't properly discussed with me and that the form has been pre-ticked so that I consent to all options. Looking back I remember how the (otherwise lovely) doctor urged us to take photos as the events were progressing and now I can't help but think that he was doing this with his research article in mind. I do have an unresolved trauma after being tricked and harmed by a doctor so I might be overreacting. I do want to help people who find themselves in this position in future but it just feels too much right now.
What would you do? AIBU to be concerned about how my son's photos would be used?

OP posts:
Thatswhyimacat · 18/03/2022 14:18

I used to work for a journal where these images are used.

It is really valuable to the medical community to have these sorts of case reports, so you would be able to take pride in something that will go on to help others. The vast majority of this research is behind paywalls and even if it's not, I assure you that the only people who access it are clinicians, and even then not in huge numbers.

Even if your doctors have never seen a case like this before, if it has ever occurred and been published already then most journals won't accept it as a case report.

Also, some journals don't have a policy of covering the eyes on children and publish the full face, keep that in mind before consenting?

SleepingStandingUp · 18/03/2022 14:18

I would consent. They're not going to be used in a way that would harm him and in a year he won't even look like him.

DS had photos taken to use as a guide for parents of babies with CDH. I refused to let them blur out his face because I think it's weird. No one would look at that photo and know its my son unless they randomly saw six year old photos on my FB.

I'm sorry you've got unresolved issues around medical care, but this is about helping other families

VariationsonaTheme · 18/03/2022 14:25

It wouldn’t even occur to me not to consent for medical purposes.

HelloSunshine11 · 18/03/2022 14:27

It wouldn't bother me. It would be very difficult for anyone to find these photos of him online by searching and it would be an enormous coincidence for someone who is reading whatever journal it might be to recognise him as an eight-week old.

I hope he's better soon Flowers

PierresPotato · 18/03/2022 14:27

I would.

Choppingonions · 18/03/2022 14:29

I would. It's a non event.

TheKeatingFive · 18/03/2022 14:29

I would. But it's entirely up to you.

hangrylady · 18/03/2022 14:30

I would so that others can benefit in the future but I understand you are hesitant. I hope your son is OK Flowers

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 18/03/2022 14:30

I’d totally consent for this. It could massively help other children down the line when doctors look at something they’d never normally see.

Okayokayokayokay · 18/03/2022 14:31

I would too.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 18/03/2022 14:33

Have you already given them the photos? Could you crop your son's face out so you can't see it's him or is it not in a location that that's possible

Babyboomtastic · 18/03/2022 14:34

If concerned, perhaps agree to the first two categories but not the third.

It depends I guess also on the nature of the photos, and how self conscious he'd likely be of them. Close ups of a rash:fine. Pictures involving genitals etc: no.

Eggshausted · 18/03/2022 14:35

I would do it in a heart beat. The likelihood of someone recognising your son from photos in 20 years time is remote. And what would they do if they did, and say he was famous for something or in a prominent job? I would do it in the hope that some other child would benefit.

Hope your son is better soon.

Clymene · 18/03/2022 14:39

I would absolutely do it. His name won't be attached to the photos and they will learn so much.

And I can promise you that most people are completely incapable of linking a photo of a baby with its grown up self

SevenWaystoLeave · 18/03/2022 14:40

You could explain you're happy for the first two but not the last, and ask for a new form so you can tick what you're happy with yourself.

YANBU whatever your choice, it's entirely up to you what you're comfortable with

notanothertakeaway · 18/03/2022 14:42

Assuming that the child wouldn't be named, I think this is fine

Sirzy · 18/03/2022 14:42

Ds was ill At 8 weeks and the photos of him them don’t look like him now at 12 at all so I doubt anyone would link them back to him at all.

If your not happy then don’t consent but things like this can be very useful in influencing future treatments and knowledge

Sirzy · 18/03/2022 14:42

And most importantly I hope he is on the mend and home soon

Shiningpath · 18/03/2022 14:43

Who is going to recognise your son, a baby, in twenty years’ time? Instead of feeling betrayed he might feel proud that he helped move medical science forward and helped countless other children.

betwixtlives · 18/03/2022 14:44

all babies look the same at that age, it’s not like he’ll be recognised in the future and even if he is, why does it matter?

Star81 · 18/03/2022 14:45

Honestly, out of my childrens photos at 8 weeks old I struggle to remember which is which so I don’t think he would be identified from them in the future. If you did tell him about them I’m sure he would be proud to have helped in medical studies that may help others in the future.

Knittedfairies · 18/03/2022 14:45

I would consent. Your son's treatment may be as a result of other parents consenting to be part of earlier research.

Elsiebear90 · 18/03/2022 14:45

So I had a rare skin disorder as a child, they took pictures of me and my mum agreed for them to be used in medical literature, I’m now 31 and it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s all anonymised anyway, so no one would have a clue it’s your son.

PeterPomegranate · 18/03/2022 14:45

I might consent but YANBU for thinking the possible uses weren’t fully explained to you. You don’t have to consent if you don’t feel comfortable. That’s a good enough reason.

Ragwort · 18/03/2022 14:46

I would (& did) my DS was born with a rare medical condition which was corrected by surgery, I am so grateful to previous generations who allowed photographs so that surgeons and medical professionals could learn how to treat the condition. It was 21 years ago .... I doubt anyone would recognise my DS from those photos!

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