Penalties Await Algerian Nurse After Posting Controversial Video of a Deceased Body

Reactions continue in Algeria regarding the case of the nurse who sparked significant controversy on social media after posting a video on her "TikTok" account showing the body of a deceased person, highlighting the violation of the sanctity of the dead and the disclosure of secrets related to the circumstances of their death.

In the widely condemned video, the nurse appeared recording herself while preparing the body in the morgue.

The video showed part of the corpse, prompting many followers to express their anger at her actions, which they deemed "unethical" towards the deceased and their family, as well as the negative psychological impact on her followers.

The nurse later stated that she did not intend to publish the video, but decided to do so due to the impact of the person's death on the hospital staff, as the deceased was in good health before returning home, but passed away due to a sudden heart attack.

She added that the video was a way to express the sadness that affected her personally and her colleagues.

According to lawyer Farid Sabri, the nurse may face several criminal charges , including:

1 _ Desecration of the corpse: According to Article 153 of the Algerian Penal Code, anyone who commits any act that harms the dignity of the corpse is punishable by imprisonment for two to five years, along with a fine ranging from 2 to 10 million centimes.

2 _ Violation of the sanctity of private life: This is a crime punishable by law with imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years, in addition to a fine ranging from 5 to 30 million centimes.

3 _ Disclosure of professional secrets: As a nurse, she may face charges of disclosing professional secrets, which is a crime that could expose her to imprisonment from one month to 6 months and a fine ranging from 2 to 10 million centimes.

The lawyer also noted that if the deceased's family decides to file a complaint, they can seek compensation through the court.

The Algerian Ministry of Health expressed its strong condemnation of what happened, considering the nurse's actions "inhumane," affirming that it is far from the fundamental values and principles of the nursing profession.

The ministry confirmed that it will take all legal actions against the nurse, including pursuing legal proceedings against her.

For its part, the specialized hospital institution Slim Zemirli in Harrach condemned the unacceptable behavior, stating that it "affects the dignity and rights of the patient even after their death."

The hospital management also decided to suspend the nurse from work immediately pending the completion of administrative and judicial investigations, in accordance with laws that criminalize such acts.

The case continues to attract public attention, while Algerian circles await the court's decision regarding the penalties that may be imposed on the nurse.