The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is expected to invite a nurse next week for questioning over an alleged TikTok livestream involving a pregnant patient in distress, Ghana’s Ministry of Health has confirmed.
Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer Tony Goodman said the Council had taken up the matter after it was alerted to a report circulating on social media.
In a Facebook post on Friday, November 6, Goodman said the nurse would be asked to engage with the regulator as part of its follow-up investigations.
“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.
The identity of the nurse and the health facility where the incident allegedly occurred have not been disclosed publicly by either the Ministry of Health or the NMC.
The issue was referred to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) by Facebook user Dickson Assan, who raised concerns about an early-morning TikTok Live broadcast.
Assan alleged that the person hosting the livestream showed a Mobile Money number on screen while the pregnant patient was in distress, apparently seeking financial contributions from viewers.
He questioned why a health worker would use the condition of a vulnerable patient as material for online content.
Council’s warning over social media conduct
The NMC has previously warned nurses and midwives about unprofessional behaviour on social media.
A directive signed by Registrar Philomena Wooley said disturbing videos involving nurses, midwives, practitioners and trainees were directly contrary to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
The directive also prohibited the unauthorised use of nursing and midwifery uniforms in the creation of social media content.
It reminded members of the profession that their work is based on “the principles of integrity, respect, professionalism and ethical responsibility”.
Under the Council’s Scope of Practice for Nurses and Midwives in Ghana, as well as Part III of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), the NMC is responsible for setting and maintaining professional standards.
The legislation also gives the regulator disciplinary powers over registered practitioners and trainees.
In its social media directive, the Council said it “will not hesitate to invoke the necessary disciplinary measures, including suspension or revocation of licenses, against any individual found culpable of breaching the professional Code of Conduct”.
The NMC has urged members of the public to report suspected professional misconduct through its official channels.
It said such reports formed part of efforts to safeguard patients’ rights and uphold nursing standards in health facilities across Ghana.
