I work as a tech in an emergency room. Recently I came across one of our nurses Facebook and myspace. She had taken a picture with her cell phone of a patient with head trauma and posted it on the web for all to see. The picture is angled from the forehead so the eyes and nose are visible. The face is clearly recognizable. Should this be reported as a HIPPA violation?

Unless this patient gave permission for his/her picture to be taken this is absolutely a HIPAA (BTW, it's HIPAA not HIPPA) violation!! Report away!!

If permission was granted to take pictures for medical purposes, would it be a violation for posting them on leisurely websites?

Yes, it is still a HIPAA violation.

If permission was granted to take pictures for medical purposes, would it be a violation for posting them on leisurely websites?

As J_9 pointed out, yes it would be. However, I have yet to hear of pictures being taken for medical purposes using a cell phone. You can report it, but make sure you have the full story first; people don't like being tattled on if they haven't done anything wrong. Not trying to lecture, just saying... :)