A female nurse took a photo of my naked body while I slept - and it's completely legal

The issue

I was having surgery to check for uterine cancer. My legs were widespread in stirrups. I was unconscious.

A middle aged female nurse used her personal smart phone to take a snapshot whilst I was asleep on the operating table. She showed the image to other nurses in the hospital.

Why is this legal in NSW but not in VIC or QLD?

The police cant lock this woman up. There are simply no laws to cover it.

Photographing someone’s genitals is only a crime if done for sexual gratification. This is such a disgusting situation all round.

If the act is not criminal then this so called health professional gets to keep working. She is still working as a theatre nurse. Would you want her or others like her beside you when you have to go under sedation?

My dignity has been ripped out. I want it back.

Please sign and share my petition asking the NSW Attorney General to address this disgracefully overlooked gap in NSW criminal and privacy law. I have taken 20,000 signatures directly to the Attorney General Gabriel Upton MP when I met with her. I need more people to now be aware of this issue as I take it to the new Attorney General Mark Speakman.

This petition had 20,154 supporters

The issue

I was having surgery to check for uterine cancer. My legs were widespread in stirrups. I was unconscious.

A middle aged female nurse used her personal smart phone to take a snapshot whilst I was asleep on the operating table. She showed the image to other nurses in the hospital.

Why is this legal in NSW but not in VIC or QLD?

The police cant lock this woman up. There are simply no laws to cover it.

Photographing someone’s genitals is only a crime if done for sexual gratification. This is such a disgusting situation all round.

If the act is not criminal then this so called health professional gets to keep working. She is still working as a theatre nurse. Would you want her or others like her beside you when you have to go under sedation?

My dignity has been ripped out. I want it back.

Please sign and share my petition asking the NSW Attorney General to address this disgracefully overlooked gap in NSW criminal and privacy law. I have taken 20,000 signatures directly to the Attorney General Gabriel Upton MP when I met with her. I need more people to now be aware of this issue as I take it to the new Attorney General Mark Speakman.

The Decision Makers

Mark Speakman
NSW Attorney General
Responded
Dear Brieana, From today, the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) has new criminal offences punishing intimate image abuse. It is now a crime in NSW to record, distribute, or threaten to record or distribute, an intimate image without the consent of the person depicted. I want to acknowledge your work advocating for this reform and for attending Parliament House in support of the Bill. What happened to you was wrong and caused you significant harm. I hope that these new offences will deter others from engaging in similar conduct and that today’s reform, together with the knowledge of your contribution towards them, will help to heal some of the hurt you have suffered. Kind regards, Mark Speakman Attorney General
Australian Commonwealth Government
Australian Commonwealth Government

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