December 27, 2010
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Banning Cameras at Childbirth
A hospital is coming under fire for banning cameras and video during childbirth. They will not allow a camera until five minutes after the birth has taken place.
One mother is upset because she wants to catch the childbirth while it is happening. The hospital officials are claiming that the issue is the safety of the mother. They do not want the doctors to be distracted.
A person that was quoted in the article mentioned that the real issue may be that doctors are afraid of lawsuits. Here is the link: Link
Should cameras be banned from recording a childbirth?
Comments (70)
It is kinda annoying when doctors and nurses are trying to take care of your baby and everyone is getting all pushy with the cameras. Maybe if the person with the camera stayed out of the way?
If a person doesn’t like it, find another hospital.
Yes. It is pornography.
No. If the mother wants to document the birthing process, she should be able to. And the doctors should be afraid of lawsuits. If they’re doing something wrong, there needs to be consequences.
As long as the person with the camera isn’t in the way, I don’t see a problem with it.
I am against banning cameras or video during any medical procedure. but especially childbirth.
I don’t see a problem with hospitals banning people from videotaping. They have valid points. It’s distracting, people will get in doctors and nurses way just to get a good shot, and if anything happens the new mother can sue the hospital.
If you want to video tape it then just don’t go to that hospital. You don’t have a “right” to video tape in a hospital so if they want to ban it then they can go right ahead.
Cameras are allowed at SOME hospitals. It depends on the doctors. Mine wouldn’t allow video or flash photography.
Which I was fine with.
What gets me is they’re OK with 4-6 medical students viewing but not someone recording. haha. they asked me if I would be OK with some students viewing my birth. I was like FUCK NO. LOL
But yeah- it should be up to the doctors. If it breaks their concentration- then fuck it. Mothers get so many different options when it comes to child birth. Doctors get to abide by what the mothers want; and when it comes to safety the mothers have to abide what the doctors want. That’s the way it works. lol.
It should be the mother’s choice. Oh, right. It still is. If she wants a camera, she should choose another hospital. And I do agree… cameras can catch doctors making mistakes: bad for business.
@tendollar4ways - LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ARE YOU FOR REAL?
I think it’s the hospital’s call. Bet it pisses the lawyers off!
I think they should have a clause or paperwork saying that if the camera person gets in the way or is in the room, it could be considered a distraction and the hospital would not be held liable for any uncourteous behaviors, pushing, etc. No flash would be permitted as that could be creating a critical flaw.
@tendollar4ways - It’s so pornographic. I mean think, the people had to have SEX for the event to even happen!
@ohletitbe - I am double dog serious. Ya got a nekkid vagina (Pornography) and a nekkid baby (Child Pornography).
yess its about law suits,,,
at least thts wht i knw frm going to med skull… hehehe
It is well within the hospital’s right to establish such a policy, whether or not it’s a good idea. And the patient has the right to take his or her business to another hospital.
cause we are totallyy going to put that on youtube and the facebook to prove a child came out of us. seriously?
@MangoWOW - That’s interesting that you use the word “right.” I don’t believe we have a “right” to take photographs of medical procedures. Delivering a child into the world is by any account a medical procedure: Indeed,one that can be fraught with unexpected complications. At best, any hospital that allows photography in the delivery room is doing a favor to those requesting it, rather than living up some to a legal requirement.
@tendollar4ways - You’re hopeless. lol….
@nyfemme - exactly.
Seriously though. It’s not the “mother’s right” to take pictures. If she wants that right; she should give birth in her own home; or at a birthing center that isn’t connected to a hospital. It’s not a right to do whatever the hell you want during a delivery; or any kind of surgery (c section) whatever.
When the doctor tells you to do something (unless it’s not necessary) you do it. They are responsible for the safety of your baby. Wouldn’t you listen to them and respect their decision to not be distracted by someone moving around the room filming and moving angles all the time to catch different shots..
It should be up to the hospital. If someone really cares about videotaping the birth, then they can go to another hospital. It’s not that hard to ask if you can videotape it when you are looking for your doctor. If you can’t change hospitals, tough luck I think. It really isn’t important for you to record the birth, especially since that tends to be just another video forgotten about and you have your child as a reminder (in my opinion). But seeing how pushy people can be with cameras, especially if they want the perfect shot, I can see how they would easily get in the way of the doctors. Even for shows where they film a birth, you can tell they have to keep their distance. Plus, the article mentions it’s intended to protect patient privacy. Keeping with the privacy laws can be a struggle and in our sue-happy society, I can see how videos would worry them. Many of the issues that go wrong with a birth are things the doctor already tries to avoid. However, the lawyers after these lawsuits really don’t care so I can see where that issue comes in as well (seriously, a lot of those commercials to sue your doctor are for things out of their control normally or for things they do warn you about, even if it’s on a sheet of paper that you can read). If the doctor really screws up, there are probably enough witnesses to sue them without a video. If the hospital has had enough issues because of videotaping a birth, I can see why they’d want to keep cameras out until after the procedure is done.
@ohletitbe - I agree with you 100%. Even some hospitals that normally allow photography and videos will disallow it under certain circumstances, such as breech birth, premature birth, obviously c-section, situations where the placenta cuts off oxygen to the baby, etc . etc… I’d have to say it’s the hospital’s “right” to allow or disallow photography….. I didn’t want it any way, ha ha, I had a fear (unfounded) that I would poop while pushing!
@nyfemme - I know exactly what you mean. I didn’t want people watching this video of me tired and pushing a baby out..
and yeah; that fear presented itself to me. So I’m glad they wouldn’t let my ex tape the birth LOL.
When I was giving birth my sons heartbeat dropped down to 70 and there were doctors and nurses rushing in and out of the room;
while drugged up with an epidural I had to get on my hands and knees to rotate the baby inside me (his cord was wrapped around his neck)
if it wouldn’t have worked; it could have easily been an emergency C section.. (NOOOO!!) so I am very glad that that whole ordeal wasn’t caught on tape..
me in a hospital gown; completely naked (almost) and on my hands and knees.
COME ON!!!
one thing i know is that i don’t want people taking videos and pictures of me giving birth. as if i’m cranky enough i don’t need any of that.
@ohletitbe - who was that guy that said it’s like pornography? lmao…..true,enough: it’s got everything, the nakedness, the raw moaning and screaming, the unexpected plot twists…..just no reason for anyone to get sexually excited! My brother passed out cold during his daughter’s birth!
Thats crazy.I didn’t do a video,but for my first child I had the camera ready to take pics and when he finally came out I was standing there staring with my mouth wide open when my wife looks up at me and says” Uh Gene,you gonna take some pictures of just stand there” I was so amazed at the sight of seeing my son for the first time I was paralyzed.
@nyfemme - ROFLLL. I know right. Kind of true xD My ex got to cut the cord and he was like “what do I do..”
the doctors like “pull the scissors together…”
LMAOOO.
men are like completely shocked and amazed. (or they’re sickened and puking all over) xD
I sort of agree they shouldn’t be allowed..I am pregnant and honestly I can deal with a still camera but a video camera not so sure. Oh and only stills of me with the baby not of the baby being born..
@tendollar4ways - No, it’s just childbirth. And it should be the choice of the parents. I didn’t want anyone aiming a camera at my nether regions, but there are plenty of women who want to record every second of the birth experience. I was happy to see photos of my tired self holding the ugly little monkey who had lived within me. Hard to believe the teenagers who eat me out of house and home were once tiny babies in my arms…
Yes. Childbirth has become a three-ring circus. It’s time for doctors and nurses to regain control of the delivery room.
@Inspectorgrampy5 -aawwwe! that’s so beautiful!……Did it change the way you thought of your wife’s vagina, or were you too focussed on the baby? (I made my husband stand at the head of the bed: I didn’t want him to see any unsightly disgustingness, lol, But he did get to cut the cord and hold our daughter first, before they gave her to me …I believe I had to be stitched up quite a bit…another part of child birth i’d rather forget and would never have wanted captured on film!!!)
@beesuze - ”It should be the choice of the parents“ Do you mean to say that Doctors and Hospitals should not have the right to regulate the use of cameras and videos? Maybe under some circumstances, or under all circumstances?
@nyfemme - I was at my wifes head.I didn’t really want to see all the part the Dr’s and nurses see LOL. It was almost 30 years ago and I can still remember my thinking…”Wow,there really WAS a baby in there” I was 22 at the time
I’ve never given birth, but I don’t think I’d want anyone to be anywhere near a camera while I was popping out a kid. You’re basically in a ton of pain (or knocked out totally from the drugs) and looking and feeling pretty miserable, and somebody wants to get all that on video? And aim the camera at my vagina? No thanks. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to film something like that.
But yeah, the hospital’s decision is probably a lawsuit factor. Mum and Dad watch the video afterward and see that one of the interns did something questionable, and now it’s all over Youtube. All the same, if the parents really want to film it, they can choose another hospital.
The hospital has the right to ban whatever they wish. Seriously, has anyone here actually sat down and watched a birth video? Unless your pregnant and want to know what to expect, I don’t see the need for a video or camera’s.
is there a special exception for military families?!?? it’s bad enough that a deployed soldier has to miss it, but then they take away the ability to see it- either with still pics or a webcam setup?? if the mother will allow it I don’t see a problem… maybe they need to have something they can sign saying they won’t sue if their camera gets in the way or something but personally I would find a different hospital first- especially if my husband was deployed…
It should be the patients choice.
I think they should be able to film it, but I understand that someone poking a camera in could get annoying. There should be a way to get the video without having someone there filming it I think. Attach a camera to the doctors lapel or something. You know. Anyways if I ever give birth I’m pretty sure the last thing I’d ever want to watch was giving birth. Yeotch.
@ohletitbe - I think my mind was blown. Did you say you had to rotate the baby?? Omg I’m afraid to have babies.
They don’t want to be liable for anything or have proof of any wrongdoing.
NO! I recently had my little girl in September and was very sad that we couldn’t take pics of her right away.
Stop time stamping you stupid fuck. if we don’t read it the first time, chances are we don’t want to hear of your shitty topics for blogs
I don’t know why on earth anyone would want to film it anyway.
F no…it should be up to the mother. But it is also the mother’s job to make sure that the camera person does not get in the way of the doctor, nurse or midwife.
Ban cameras? No. All my kids are on vid. In fact, the delivery team were quite accomodating. Just keep out of the way, they said; and I did.Are Dr’s worried about lawsuits? many health care providers are. Morning, noon, and night. This I learned from working 30 years in a hospital. Welcome to the new health care paradigm
@LeapYearProposal - some people have a lot of friends or can’t get to a computer all the time to check up on stuff. Timestamping helps certain people ensure that most everyone will get a chance to see the post. Surely it’s not that much of a hassle for you to scroll past one extra line now and again lol
i don’t understand people who want their labor recorded. i mean, who is going to watch it?
@LeapYearProposal - I’ve got an idea, why don’t you unsubscribe so that you don’t have to deal with his timestamps or “stupid” topics. Easy, problem solved.
My doctor told me that the doctors wanted to tell the patients no cameras because of the lawsuits but they couldn’t do it without losing patients so they got the hospital admins on board as the “bad guys”. My sister videotaped several of my children’s births and they can come in handy when there’s a dispute about what happened during a birth or which doctor was present for it etc.I think it would benefit hospitals to videotape every procedure performed. It would be valuable in lawsuits and also for training surgical staff.
safety?! common sense and respect could go a long way here.
personally I don’t regret not having any shots of the baby’s head on it’s way out. But I am grateful we were allowed to take any pictures we wanted.
@ohletitbe - Lol. They asked me the same thing with my son’s birth..if a medical student can watch. I was in so much pain and want it to be done and over with, I didn’t care who was there..just get this baby outta me!! haha
Definitely no. I have a recorded video of me in labor with my daughter. There were good moments, and there were bad moments..but I’m glad to have them all those moments captured for lifetime memories.
I guess with the point everyone is making that the cameras might get in the doctor’s way..as long as they stay out of the way, I don’t see any problem with allowing it. Also, for those who made comments about why on earth anyone would want the childbirth process documented, you wouldn’t understand the feeling until you become a parent (especially a mom).
@tendollar4ways - Eh…..I’m sure you’re joking. Pornography is in the intent as well as the content. Naked doesn’t always equal porn.
I do think people should be able to record the event in any manner they choose, but they must be considerate of the process.
when you’re at a hospital, it’s important to follow the protocols for the hospital otherwise give birth at home.
Just give the pregnant woman what she wants…
See, here’s where I get stuck. I think it should be the mothers choice, but at the same time, it should be the hospitals.
The mother should be able to choose if she wants to have the birth documented. I mean, it is HER kid, yaknow.
But, the hospital should have a say in it because, well, that’s where it’s taking place at, and the doctors are the ones taking care of them. So, I think for safety reasons too, that the hospital/doctors should choose.
I can’t decide which one outweighs the other…. :/
@callist0 - I’ve seen plenty of birthing videos on youtube.
@feckyou_feckme - I am pretty sure there must be some fecking people out there who are turned on by a video like this. There are people who get sexually aroused watching a woman in heals crush a small animal to death. That doesn’t even involve nekkid anything or sexy parts.
If I were the hospital, I would definately ban it. Otherwise the hospital would just be opening itself up to possible child porn allegations.
@TakingxOverxMe - agreed
For me it is an issue of privacy; if babies could decide i believe that millions would choose to be camera free at least for the first moment of their lives.
@TooComplicated2Explain - yes! my sons imbilical cord was wrapped around his neck which caused his heart beat to drop dangerously low (70) a machine started beeping and nurses and doctors rushed in and out telling me “sweetie you gotta sit on your hands and knees we need to try and rotate the baby.” I had had an epidural so I was numb from the waist down. but I did it with like no help. It was kind of scary when the put the oxygen mask on me; he came out with blue hands and feet.. and he was silent. : x it scared me like nothing else in this world, ever.
Fifty years ago men weren’t even ALLOWED in the delivery room. You know why? They would FREAK OUT; pass out; puke; or squeal, ect; and that’s DISTRACTING to the doctors. so its like “GETTTT OUTTTTT” especially when its a surgery; they allow no one besides one companion. and that’s for a reason. They need full concentration and if someone walking around with a camera is distracting then that should be fine. If you want it your way; go to BK or have your baby AT HOME.
@seriously_meredith - lol. yeah cause I can ‘make sure’ people don’t get in the way when I’m laying on a hospital bed pushing out a baby. LMAO. How about; people just don’t do it in the first place..
@LeapYearProposal - god someone is bitter and angry. unsubscribe you dumb beezy.
@tendollar4ways - you’re just ridiculous. So my baby’s bath video would be considered child porn huh? and naked baby bath pictures?
Well I have child porn on my xanga/FB then.
I repeat the baby should be able to decide just for privacy’s sake. But since it is not possible then the people will never know what to do.
I wouldn’t want that caught on tape, but who am I to say others shouldn’t be allowed to? If they’re really worried about the person with the camera being in the way/a risk to the mother’s safety, why not have the floor marked off around the birthing bed? This is where you can be with the camera, but do not go here..? I think it has more to do with lawsuits, too. If there’s no video evidence, they can still deny what happened. If they screw up majorly and it’s all right there on tape? Not so much.
…why do people want to video tape births?
i do not want me birthing my first child on tape, no thank you.
@tendollar4ways - Are you turned on by shit and blood and mucous and tearing flesh?
@Mangonese - I am not a Republican nor a Conservative.
@Bushy_Tailed - I don’t see anything wrong with recording a birth, people are going to stand there watching you anyways. When you’re having a baby modesty goes out the window. It’s the ultimate bragging right of life, which should not be taken away. Just my opinion. Pro Cameras! lol
I kind of agree with this. Only kind of, because if a woman really wants to see herself going through birth, then she should be allowed to. But, really, no one wants to see that, probably not even the mother giving birth. You expect to see some magical process, and instead it’s just a woman who looks a mess screaming in pain, hopped up on just enough drugs that she’s not passing out from pain, but not so much that she can’t push out the baby. The only “miracle” of birth is how an entire baby fits through a 10 cm cervix. Other than that, it’s just a bloody mess.
I saw a childbirth video in health class back in high school… That will forever be the one and only time I see childbirth. I don’t care how close I am friends with a pregnant woman, I will NEVER be in that delivery room.
@tendollar4ways - Har har. But seriously, are you telling me that anything that someone conceivably whacks off to is to be considered porn? People masturbate to the strangest things. I’m not going to run around being afraid of animal crackers because someone was randomly turned on by them one day.
@Mangonese - no. i was being silly and really pornography isnt pornography to me. but if memory serves me correctly jerry f. was warning us about tinky wink and crusading agai nst gay porn in cartoons.
I don’t think it should be banned. The doctors need to be held accountable if they seriously screw up & harm the baby.
As far as the naked va-jay jay, it’s called editing (blurring) out the “goods.” Besides, you can see that stuff on TLC & Discovery Health and it isn’t illegal.
I think if it’s the support person holding the mom’s hand while standing on the side of the bed & using their other hand to videotape (which is NOT in the doctors’ way) then more power to ‘em.
For my first I wanted to video from my husband’s perspective standing to the side. There’d have been no visual of the va-jay jay (I’m extremely paranoid about that as I’m very modest) & so it wouldn’t have been in the way nor inappropriate for others to view. However, it wasn’t my major concern as we found out about their policy as I was getting ready to start pushing. So we were content to get pictures of our son as soon as he was set on my stomach moments after he was born. Amazing moment to capture. Same with my daughter – only we figure we didn’t have video of our son’s birth so we didn’t try to get video of her birth either.