Doctor Cao Huu Thinh: 'I did not post any videos online without permission from the patient'

Known as an obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Cao Huu Thinh's social media accounts continuously post videos with sounds and images of patients, newborns, etc., attracting millions of views. He confirmed that these videos all had the patients' permission.

One of many videos with audio and images of patients (face covered) posted by Dr. Cao Huu Thinh's account on TikTok attracted more than 10 million views and tens of thousands of comments - Photo: XM screenshot

Recently, Dr. Cao Huu Thinh has become known to many people, especially women, as an obstetrician and gynecologist, specializing in treating difficult infertility cases.

He owns many social media accounts from TikTok, Facebook, each with over 1 million followers. Each video posted attracts from tens of thousands to millions of views, some videos even reach tens of millions of views.

The video content mainly focuses on reproductive health check-ups (mainly for women), childbirth, transmitting medical knowledge, and singing and acting with celebrities.

Videos that attract tens to tens of millions of views are "difficult" and "headache" cases such as almost no eggs at 16 years old; getting married but never having sex; starting to have children at 63 years old; not having a period for 29 years and husband has no sperm...

Most of the camera angles only show Dr. Cao Huu Thinh and clinic staff talking to the patient. The patient's voice remains intact. Videos that show the patient's face are masked.

In addition, there are also many videos on Dr. Cao Huu Thinh's TikTok account that do not cover the faces of patients, including videos of newborn babies or babies several years old that he himself fertilized in vitro, now being brought to visit by their families.

Doctor Cao Huu Thinh said that his image is being used by social media accounts as a representative face to sell and advertise functional foods - Photo: XM screenshot

Doctor Cao Huu Thinh also posted many articles about cases where people had no hope of having children but thanks to him, they gave birth to twins, triplets, and even quintuplets.

On May 27, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Cao Huu Thinh said that all videos posted on social networks that contain images of patients have been requested with the patient's permission.

"The videos I post on the TikTok platform are usually funny clips about babies that patients request to be posted, I don't post them on my own," said Dr. Thinh.

According to Dr. Thinh, the disclosure of patient information, images, and medical records is not permitted under the provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, unless the patient consents.

Dr. Thinh also said that there are currently many personal pages and social media accounts using his image to sell, advertise or represent functional foods. Therefore, people need to be extremely vigilant.

Also known to many people from his personal TikTok channel, Dr. QN (currently working at a tertiary hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and having a clinic in the city) regularly posts videos providing advice or popularizing reproductive knowledge, along with recommendations.

The doctor's video frames usually only have him speaking (no sound or image covering the patient's face) with some simulated illustrations to help viewers visualize better.

According to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 (effective from January 1, 2024), medical examination and treatment facilities and medical staff must respect patients' privacy, keep personal information and medical records confidential, including images and videos during the examination and treatment process.

All information related to patients must be kept confidential. Photographs and videos are permitted when the patient agrees in writing or verbally, with recording and legal storage, for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment, professional training, consultation, research or communication.

Many doctors both livestream and examine

According to Tuoi Tre Online , currently on social networks, there are many videos with images, prescriptions, sounds of patients being consulted, examined, even livestreamed..., including images posted by doctors themselves.

For example, a TikTok account claiming to be "OB/GYN LP" often livestreams while examining women at his clinic. Because he livestreams, viewers can see all the conversations between the doctor and the patient.

During the live broadcast, the broadcaster does not notify the patients. Although the camera angle mainly records the activities of people in the clinic, there are still times when patients accidentally appear in the live broadcast frame.

Faced with the situation where many doctors "indifferently" post images and videos of patients' examination and treatment on social media channels, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong suggested that this behavior should be strongly condemned.

XUAN MAI - THU HIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bac-si-cao-huu-thinh-cac-video-tren-mang-toi-khong-tu-y-dang-deu-co-xin-phep-benh-nhan-2025052720014606.htm