BackgroundSwift recognition of cardiac arrest is required for survival, however failure to recognize (and delayed response) is common. Studying online cardiac arrest videos may aid recognition, however the ethical implications of this are unknown. We examined their use from the perspective of persons with lived experience of cardiac arrest, seeking to understand the experience of having one’s cardiac arrest recorded and available online.MethodsWe gathered qualitative data using focused interviews of persons affected by cardiac arrest. Inductive thematic analysis was performed, as well as a deductive ethical analysis. Co-researcher survivors and co-survivors were involved in all stages of this project.FindingsWe identified themes of ‘shock, hurt and helplessness’ and ‘surreality and reality’ to describe the experience of having one’s (or a family member’s) cardiac arrest captured and distributed online. Participants provided guidance on the use of online videos for education and research, emphasising beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice.ConclusionsFinding one’s own, or a family member’s cardiac arrest video online is shocking and potentially harmful for families. If ethical principles are followed however, there may be acceptable procedures for the use of online videos of cardiac arrest for education or research purposes. The careful use of online videos of cardiac arrest for education and research may help improve recognition and response, though additional research is required to confirm or refute this claim.