In a shocking incident, a woman in China was outraged when she discovered she was being secretly filmed while undergoing breast augmentation surgery. The video showed her unconscious under the influence of anesthesia. The video was found on Douyin, the Chinese TikTok, five months after the surgery. The video has been shared more than 39,000 times. Similar videos of other women were also found on Douyin, showing that such violations of privacy are systematic. The woman, known only by her surname Gao, underwent breast augmentation surgery in January at a hospital in Henan province, central China. The hospital specialized in cosmetic procedures.

As reported by South China Morning Post, Gao said that the video seriously violated her privacy as she is clearly recognizable in it. She reportedly contacted the hospital several times to demand the identity of the perpetrator who admitted her, but the hospital has so far evaded any responsibility. Gao has also asked the hospital to publicly apologize and pay her compensation.

The hospital has refused to apologize for the incident, claiming that the video was shot and posted by an “external” party. The perpetrator could not be traced through CCTV footage as the hospital deleted all CCTV logs after three months. This made the investigation to trace the perpetrator even more difficult. However, the hospital offered to work with social media platforms to remove the said video if it resurfaces.

Gao believes the hospital is trying to protect the perpetrator. She argued that an operating room is a very private environment where the entrance and exit of staff and patients is monitored. A random person cannot record video from such a distance without permission. After all, the videos clearly show the doctors and nurses.

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Hospital officials insisted that the person who recorded the video had since left the hospital and that they had deleted all contact information. This response failed to convince Gao and others. According to SCMP, such a response from the hospital could set a precedent in which hospitals and other institutions can avoid responsibility by blaming former employees.

Gao has now decided to sue the hospital for violating privacy rights and image rights. Ma Bin, a lawyer from Tianxin Law Firm in Henan, told the Shanghai Morning Post that even if the video was made and distributed by an outside individual or a former employee, the hospital would still be liable.

Hospital officials insisted that the person who recorded the video had since left the hospital and that they had deleted all contact information. This response failed to convince Gao and others. According to SCMP, such a response from the hospital could set a precedent in which hospitals and other institutions can avoid responsibility by blaming former employees.

Gao has now decided to sue the hospital for violating privacy rights and image rights. Ma Bin, a lawyer from Tianxin Law Firm in Henan, told the Shanghai Morning Post that even if the video was made and distributed by an outside individual or a former employee, the hospital would still be liable.