Editing Herzing Issues: Ethics and Credential Representation (section)

=== HU-069: Student (Student G) shared medical images of a minor child (not her dependent) in cohort group communications, raising ethical and potential HIPAA/child privacy concerns ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
! style="width:14em" | Severity
| Medium
! Status
| POSSIBLE (Requires Verification)
|-
! Issue type
| Ethical Violation (Sharing Medical Images of a Minor)
! Date added
| 2026-05-05
|-
! Owner
| colspan="3" | Student Affairs / Compliance / Title IX Coordinator
|}
'''Finding.''' According to the tracker, Student G shared medical images of a minor child who was not her dependent in the cohort's Discord/GroupMe group communications. The EthicsPoint report characterizes this as "raising ethical concerns." The context raises potential HIPAA, FERPA, and child privacy concerns depending on the source and nature of the images.

'''Evidence.''' EthicsPoint Report (Sept 18, 2025), Section II (Behavioral and Student Conduct Concerns): "Sharing of medical images of a minor child (not their dependent), raising ethical concerns by Student G." Listed alongside other inappropriate group discussion topics. Source Group: EthicsPoint Reports: Sept 18, 2025 (Report #1); Dec 3, 2025 (Report #2).

'''Reported statement.'''
<blockquote>Sharing of medical images of a minor child (not their dependent), raising ethical concerns by Student G.</blockquote>

'''Standards.''' Herzing Nursing Program Confidentiality Statement (Handbook Appendix I, p.36): "Protected health information (PHI) including the patient's admission, diagnosis, treatment, and financial status is confidential and is protected by law (HIPAA). You are expected to limit your uses and disclosures of protected health information." If images originated from a clinical setting: 45 CFR §164.502 (HIPAA Privacy Rule): sharing patient PHI without authorization is a violation. 42 U.S.C. §1320d-6: criminal penalties for wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. ANA Code of Ethics Provision 3.1: the nurse promotes and protects the privacy of the patient. Herzing P.R.I.C.E. Values (Handbook p.14): Integrity and Caring standards.

'''Impact.''' If the medical images originated from a clinical setting, this would constitute a HIPAA violation with potential criminal liability and would be grounds for program dismissal under the Herzing Confidentiality Statement. Even if not clinical, sharing medical images of a non-dependent minor raises serious ethical questions about professional judgment and fitness for clinical practice.

'''Notes.''' Reported as POSSIBLE because the EthicsPoint report does not specify the source of the images (clinical vs. personal), the nature of the medical content, or the identity of the minor. If the images came from a clinical rotation, severity should be elevated to Critical. The EthicsPoint investigation closure (Sept 25, 2025) did not specifically address this allegation, which represents a potential gap in the investigation's scope (see {{HU|HU-067}}). Cross-reference: {{HU|HU-067}} (investigation adequacy), {{HU|HU-066}} (broader pattern of unprofessional conduct in cohort groups).

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