Patient sues hospital over CCTV camera in breast examination room

A Ghanaian woman, Gifty Amoakowaa, has initiated legal proceedings against Peace and Love Hospital, alleging that the institution violated her constitutional rights by placing surveillance cameras in rooms designated for intimate medical assessments, including breast examinations.

The suit, filed at the High Court, asserts that the presence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) equipment in such sensitive spaces amounts to a gross intrusion on her personal privacy, dignity, and the confidentiality expected in medical interactions.

She is seeking enforcement of her fundamental human rights under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Amoakowaa’s claim is hinging on key constitutional provisions—specifically, Articles 15 and 18(2)—which protect the dignity and privacy of the individual.

 She has also invoked the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), highlighting Section 167 and the Sixth Schedule, which enshrine the right to confidentiality for all patients under Ghanaian law.

According to the plaintiff, the hospital's installation of surveillance devices in private examination rooms is not only an unlawful practice but has caused her significant emotional distress.

She recounts experiencing psychological trauma and ongoing anxiety due to what she describes as a deeply inappropriate and invasive breach of trust.

In her reliefs, Amoakowaa is asking the court to:

• Issue a declaration that the use of CCTV in breast examination and consultation rooms violates her constitutional rights and is legally impermissible;

• Order the hospital to dismantle and remove all such surveillance equipment from medical consultation spaces;

• Compel the destruction of any footage in which she appears and prohibit any further retention or use of such material;

• Award her general damages for the psychological and emotional harm suffered;

• Grant costs incurred in pursuing the legal action.

Supporting her claims is an affidavit that details the nature and extent of the alleged violations and the legal basis for each remedy sought. The application also leaves room for any further reliefs the court may deem appropriate.