NMC glossary · Patients, privacy and consent
Identifiable Patient Information: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Patient privacy, Patient data, Blurring patient faces
Patient information, photographs, videos, records, clinical images and treatment details that can identify a patient must not be used for advertising unless the law allows it and consent and safeguards are in place. Names, faces and identifiable anomalies must not be shared publicly.
Updated 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Tamojit Lodh, Founder of Medmatis. Built around the NMC's Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics of 6 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key facts, with sources
Hide the 4 key facts and their sourcesShow the 4 key facts and their sources
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Term | Identifiable patient information (also searched as Patient privacy, Patient data, Blurring patient faces) | Medmatis |
| In the notice | Not defined by the notice; this entry explains how the notice uses it. | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026, cl. 6.1, cl. 6.4, cl. 7.4, cl. 7.6 |
| Applies to | Doctors (RMPs) and hospitals/medical institutions | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
| In force | From 6 October 2026, with immediate effect. The NMC may issue clarifications and advisories (cl. 12). | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
In plain words
Clause 6.1 covers patient information, photographs, videos, medical records, clinical images, treatment details and testimonials. Clause 7.4 separately bars sharing patient data such as names, faces and anomalies that can be identified publicly.
Even when disclosure is lawfully permitted, safeguards are expected: avoid unnecessary disclosure of names, and crop, blur or black out birth marks, identification marks or other information through which the patient may be identified (cl. 6.4). Advertising that uses personal data must also follow the IT Act 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and its 2025 Rules, to the extent applicable (cl. 7.6).
What it does not mean
- It does not mean blurring a face makes a patient story acceptable. Blurring is a safeguard for lawful disclosure; it does not unlock a promotional patient story (cl. 6.2).
- It does not mention only photographs. Videos, records, treatment details and clinical images are all listed, so a patient visible in the background of a clinic video can be a problem too.
A clinic tour filmed when no patients or files are in view.
A reel where a patient’s face, wristband or file is readable in the background.
Illustrative wording only. It shows the idea and is not a clearance of any page.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 6.1Patient information, photographs, videos, medical records, clinical images, treatment details, testimonials or other identifiable information shall not be used for advertising purposes except where such use is permitted by applicable law and the necessary consent and other safeguards have been duly complied with.
cl. 6.4Even where disclosure is lawfully permitted, reasonable safeguards shall be adopted by the hospital/medical institution and RMP shall be duty bound to prevent unnecessary disclosure of names or to crop, blur, black out, birth marks/ identification marks, or other information through which the patient may be identified.
cl. 7.4RMP/ Clinical establishment shall not share any patient data, such as names, faces, anomalies, etc., which can be identified publicly.
cl. 7.6Advertisement under these Guidelines involving processing, publication, storage, disclosure or other use of digital personal data shall comply with the provision of Information Technology Act, 2000; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and Rules made thereunder in 2025, to the extent applicable and in force from time to time.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
Can I post a patient’s photo if I blur the face?
Blurring is a required safeguard where disclosure is lawful (cl. 6.4), but it does not make a promotional patient story, testimonial or before-and-after acceptable (cl. 6.2, 8.1 v).
Does the notice mention data-protection law?
Yes. Advertising that involves processing or publishing digital personal data must comply with the IT Act 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and its 2025 Rules, to the extent applicable and in force (cl. 7.6).
This entry explains a public notice in plain language and quotes its clause numbers. It is not legal advice. Read the original NMC notice and take advice on your own situation.
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