More Bans on Photography and Videotaping During Labor and Delivery

Via Kevin, MD, Florida Hospital is banning cameras in its labor and delivery rooms. According to one Hospital representative, "'You don't go into the operating room and take pictures of surgical procedures,' said Pat DuRant, Florida Hospital's assistant vice president of women's and medical-surgical services."

Except, sometimes you do, such as in this Florida Hospital surgical video, "Advanced Technique for Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy," broadcast and archived via MedlinePlus's selection of surgical procedure videos (which include operative videos provided by numerous hospitals nationwide).

From the article:

Others have responded that the decision is based on liability worries, rather than real patient care concerns.
Representatives of the Central Florida Birth Network, an association of midwives, doulas and birth educators, don't buy arguments that cameras compromise safety by distracting staffers.

"If as long as they ahead of time say, 'This is your videotaping area; stay over here in this area,' I don't see why there should be a problem with it," said Sonia Eittson, co-chair of the group.
[snip]
"Instead of being worried about patient care, they're worried about somebody screwing up and it being caught on film," she said.

Technorati Tags: birth; Florida Hospital; hypocrisy
MeSH Tags: Delivery Rooms; Motion Pictures OR Photography; Parturition