Hospitals Weigh Bans on Videos of Birth
Short version: some hospitals have been moving to ban video and pictures during childbirth, largely out of concern that the images will be used in lawsuits but also because of privacy concerns.
On the one hand I think that each hospital should be free to make whatever policy they like in regards to cameras, so long as patients who are planning on delivering there are informed ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.
On the other, some of the self-absorbed quotes from the doctors in that article made me sprain my eyes from rolling them:
While there might really be people out there who are making video of their births just in case something goes wrong, the vast and overwhelming majority just want to have video of the birth. It's something important to them and has nothing to do with the staff.“I openly admit to my co-workers that I practice defensive medicine,” [Dr. Hamilton] said. But he said he “takes offense” that “now I have to be videoed to prove that I’m providing good care.”
For myself, I can't fathom wanting to have a camera involved in a situation that's going to involve blood, mucus, feces and God only knows what else. I'd rather remember the baby (and myself) when we're both looking a little better.