Video cameras banned in L&D

[rph3664]

The hospital where I work recently banned videotaping in the labor & delivery suite. There's a big sign on the entrance door to the unit.

The technician who told me about it believed that the doctors are afraid of being sued and they don't want the evidence on tape. I respectfully disagreed and said it's probably because the video crew gets in the way, or the support person can't give support because they're waving that camera around, or the woman doesn't want to be taped and the person does it anyway, or whatever.

I could see taping the birth if, say, the dad is in Iraq. I have also heard of people who taped the birth and showed it to all their visitors for years afterwards and then wondered why their friends stopped coming around.

What are your policies and opinions on this? I'm curious.

[tinyscrafts]

I'm really amazed at the judgementalness of most of these posts. it's up to the parents to decide. not nurses. Being a very modest person. I was pretty surprised to find out that i have full crotch shot video of dd1 being born. I wouldn't let anything happen to that tape. I love having it and found it very educational and clarifying as to what happened when/who did what. I was a bit out of it at the time, It's amazing. no one else needs to see it but that's my choice.

I'd never give birth anywhere that dared to try to take that from me. grrrr!

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

Acutally, if we are resusitating a baby, the baby is not alive. :uhoh21: And yes it is my choice if I want to be photographed no matter what I am doing and where.

Okay, clarification time again. As I said in my post, some people have a morbid need to have pictures of their now deceased baby during your valiant struggle to save his life. They don't want YOUR picture, you just get in the way.

I'm not saying this to offend you, but if you've never been a parent in this particular situation, you have no "true" understanding of it, try as you might.

And no, it's not your choice to be photographed only when and where you want. To think so, especially nowadays, is absolutely ridiculous. You're photographed at the bank, ATM, grocery store, even at the local amusement park.

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"You ask if they would kick mom out....mom (or dad) should ask ahead of time if the video cameras are permitted. Videos are a privilege not a right or a necessity. And in case of an Emergency delivery, the videocamera is not an "emergency" piece of equipment."---

Sure, they should ask ahead of time, and this can be done well in advance of the actual delivery. As I stated, discretion is in order on BOTH sides of the coin. You want to be hypervigilant and alienate the pregnant community with your stance, by all means go ahead.

And in the case of an emergency delivery...there's nothing wrong with video or pictures as long as they don't intrude in the lifesaving measures. We're not dealing with nosy reporters looking for good newsreel to sell to ABC, we're dealing with parents who sometimes don't fully understand the gravity of the situation at hand. And again, they're taping or getting pictures of a significant event in their lives, one they perhaps won't WANT to remember, or perhaps they will. If they're not in the way..leave 'em alone.

vamedic4

lighten up, geez.

[rn/writer, RN]

And no, it's not your choice to be photographed only when and where you want. To think so, especially nowadays, is absolutely ridiculous. You're photographed at the bank, ATM, grocery store, even at the local amusement park.

I'm not sure if this is your statement vamedic4, but I'd like to respond. Yes, there are cameras almost everywhere in places we think of as being in the public domain.

Cameras in a delivery room, however, seem to be the exception rather than the rule so they aren't a "given" the way the other ones are.

There is a need to balance the family's desire to preserve special moments with the staff's desire to be able to concentrate on what they are doing without distraction or fear.

The details should be discussed well before the delivery. The more restricted the policy, the earlier it should be brought up so parents have the option of changing docs if they can't live with the limitations.

Common sense, courtesy, and respect on everyone's part could go a long way toward arriving at a mutually satisfactory solution. But I suppose that's the underutilized option in a lot of situations.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

As usual, Miranda sums it up quite eloquently. Thank you.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Vamedic, I see you work or have worked in a PICU....my question to you is this....would you let a parent videotape you recusitating their child in the PICU?

It is my right to be in photos or videotaped. I have always wondered what people do with those video tapes of births...pull them out at birthday parties and get togethers? Yuck!

[BRANDY LPN]

I am in the minority here in that I never minded the family video-taping or taking still shots, and would generally even try to give them an opportunity to get "posed" pics of baby in warmer, if everything was going fine. Other times during the actual birth of baby or during a resucitation I was generally explaining to mom and dad exactly what was happening, what we are doing about it, and why, for one reason saying the steps outloud helps ME remember them and talking to the parents instead of outloud to yourself just seems more professional/competent. I have never had a problem with a support person asking me to move out of the cameras way during a birth, and I would like to think this is because I have kept them informed at every step along the way.

If I were a lawyer I would be questioning why no video exists, I would bring the parents into the court room and I would ask them what was said to them regarding video, I would review the policy, I would question EVERY hospital witness regarding this policy. After all if you are practicing competently, what do you have to hide, if you did nothing wrong why would you care if video exists? If you followed standard of care then the video should exonerate the doc, the nurse, and the hosp. right? If it were altered it could be proven, and the plaintiffs would be charged with tampering with evidence, and would lose their case.....that's what I would do if I was a lawyer.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Okay, clarification time again. As I said in my post, some people have a morbid need to have pictures of their now deceased baby during your valiant struggle to save his life. They don't want YOUR picture, you just get in the way.

I'm not saying this to offend you, but if you've never been a parent in this particular situation, you have no "true" understanding of it, try as you might.

And no, it's not your choice to be photographed only when and where you want. To think so, especially nowadays, is absolutely ridiculous. You're photographed at the bank, ATM, grocery store, even at the local amusement park.

------------------------------------------------------

"You ask if they would kick mom out....mom (or dad) should ask ahead of time if the video cameras are permitted. Videos are a privilege not a right or a necessity. And in case of an Emergency delivery, the videocamera is not an "emergency" piece of equipment."---

Sure, they should ask ahead of time, and this can be done well in advance of the actual delivery. As I stated, discretion is in order on BOTH sides of the coin. You want to be hypervigilant and alienate the pregnant community with your stance, by all means go ahead.

And in the case of an emergency delivery...there's nothing wrong with video or pictures as long as they don't intrude in the lifesaving measures. We're not dealing with nosy reporters looking for good newsreel to sell to ABC, we're dealing with parents who sometimes don't fully understand the gravity of the situation at hand. And again, they're taping or getting pictures of a significant event in their lives, one they perhaps won't WANT to remember, or perhaps they will. If they're not in the way..leave 'em alone.

vamedic4

lighten up, geez.

Again, it is my choice. I can chose not to go to places that have video cameras.I'd be very limited in my activites, but then again I don't have to worry about someone calling me into court because I decided to buy whole milk instead of 2%.And true, if I am confident in my abilities I wouldn't worry about what was being filmed. But a lawyer will pick apart every little thing you do.Imagine yourself in front of a jury trying to justify why it took you 45 seconds to get an IV in a 9 pound neonate that was born with no perfusion.

And I've seen both sides of the coin. Not once have I heard anyone lament the fact that they didn't have pictures of their baby getting chest compressions or being intubated.The pictures they cherish are the ones I take after I have bathed and dressed them.

[parrotmom]

Both hospitals I delivered at gave out through your OB their policies on cameras/videos. None were allowed at high risk deliveries and they stressed this was not a liability issue but a space and stress issue. People worry when a camera is on them. Look at a candid good shot of yourself and then a "posed candid shot." Your whole way of presenting yourself has changed. Some people can adjust but most OBs in this area do not allow except in cases of dad is away. They do allow them till actual pushing starts adn after baby is delivered to the warmer. That way there is no jockeying for shots getting in the way. If you want something besides this I suggest free standing birthing centers or home births. In those cases you are not likely to be in a high risk situation and the midwives are generally more relaxed about it. My personal experience I did not allow anyone but hubby in for the birth and we took picture after they were cleaned up. That' what I wanted. Prospective parents are responsble to ask what policy is before birth. Most cases have 8 to 9 months to find out and if you don't like the policy I suggest you have the choice of going somewhere that has a policy to your liking.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I would strongly recommend anyone in doubt check with their Risk Management departments on the use of videotapes and/or video cellphones in OB. More and more risk managers/administrators are making it against policy, due to potential litigious situations arising suddenly and unpredictibly (as is often the case in OB). It's not a matter of trying to violate parents' rights here....but legal juris prudence, we are discussing, often. It's just the environment in which we practice and we have to use caution, sadly.

And yes, as another poster states before me, people do have a choice as to birth venue. If one is a "low risk" mother-to-be, I do really encourage seeking out a midwife or free-standing birthing center. They are MUCH more low key, which is great for many who dislike the whole hospital scene.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have seen many a dad/family member in the past get way too busy "manning the cam" (when they were allowed to tape throughout the labor process) ----to really PARTICIPATE in the birth of the baby. I find that extremely sad, myself. I would not want to abandon the actual active participation in the birth of my child/grandchild/relative for manning a stupid camera. I would regret that terribly.

Truly, it's hard to be an active participant and man the cam at the same time. I encourage fathers/significant others to be active participants in what is likely one of the most momentous occasions of their lives. People who are there as spectators, well, maybe they shouldn't be. They add little to nothing to the occasion, and often just get in the way of a very intimate and joyful moment for the new parents. Often, I learned afterward, the mom/dad were afraid to ask them to leave. I have since learned how to pick up that "vibe" and will ask them in private what their wishes are and will gently enforce them.

Really folks: Pictures can wait. The birth, well that won't. I find the ones who are really THERE for their wives/girlfriends/SOs are the ones who get the very most out of the whole joyous birth experience. If I can facilitate that, well, then I have done my job as their nurse and go home satisfied.

JMO as always.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'm really amazed at the judgementalness of most of these posts. it's up to the parents to decide. not nurses.

Notice that quite a few of the posts have said that it's facility policy whether video cameras are allowed.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Marie is right; it's not judgement on the nurses' parts. We traditionally have had no choice, anyhow. Risk managers and insurance companies are running the show, not US. Often, not even the OBs are.