Banning Videotaping Births...this is so WRONG!

[Tanner's Mom]

Below is a link to a newspaper article from yesterday about not allowing the videotaping of births, so that basically doctors can cover their rears. This is so frustrating to me and so WRONG! I can feel my body respond just by the thought of it. How are they allowed to do this??? I know how....because we have not taken a strong enough stand and fought for our rights.

I personally know the power of a birth video and how well it can depict the truth. We were very fortunate to have our then 13 year old daughter catch the birth on video. About 2 months later the hospital banned taping. Convenient, huh? Our records were full of lies and without a video we would have had absolutely no case, because I did not have enough risks factors, etc. The argument was based just on traction causing the injury, and without a video that can be rough to prove, especially with today's lovely in utero theory.

This deeply saddens me, especially for those who are yet to be born and those families that have had rights taken away from them. I am tired of all the power being in their hands, and everything slipping out of ours.

Check out the article below.

Venting,
Lisa

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... ped_births

[Tanner's Mom]

Just thinking more....

I also believe if all births were videotaped that this injury would have stopped long ago, at least the majority of them. Sad to think, in time, there will be no more visual evidence regarding the causation of this injury. The medical community will be most pleased by this.

Also wondering, was anyone else able to capture their child's birth/injury on video?

Lisa

[admin]

Unfortunately, the hospital where I work(ed) and delivered both of my kids does not allow video taping of the actual birth, anything before and after is fine. Of course to cover their a$$ I'm sure. I honestly don't know if we would have taped the actual birth even if they did allow it, but if I even had once ounce of knowledge about these injuries prior too their births, my outlook would have been entirely different! I do remember thinking when they told us we couldn't tape the birth, that it was very convenient for them if something should ever go wrong. I guess I never really knew how close to the mark I really was in my thinking!!!!

So sad

Shellie

[cbe411]

Lisa, my cousin had her daughter a year and a half ago. (no bpi baby either) The hospital told her and her husband that they had to turn the camera off when she started pushing. Her hubby was a clever guy.... they wanted the birth on video, just to have but I also because I warned them about BPIs with babys. So when no one was in the room he walked around and tried to see where he could get the best angle on the whole thing. He placed the video cam in the window and let it tape for a few. He then played it back and it was great! Not too much up close and personal but enought so that they could have the birth on tape. Then when the doctor came in, he placed a black piece of tape over the red blinking light so they thoguht it wasnt taping and set the camera in the window in its designated spot! HOW NEAT! They got the whole birth on tape!

I thought this was a clever way aorund the no taping thing! Just a thought!

COurt xx

[PeggyUBPN]

I didn't want a video of the birth (wish I had wanted it--I'm sure it would have helped prove A LOT).

I think they should allow videoing; they said it themselves in the article that they didn't want it to become "Exhibit A". Well, if they are doing their jobs correctly, it shouldn't be a problem!

Maybe hospitals/birthing centers/etc should also have video of all the births and operations and ER and whatever else (like a surveillence camera), so when there are problems of any kind it can be reviewed.
I know... seems a little "Big Brotherish" ...just initial reaction.

Peggy

[CW1992]

We video taped Brittney's birth because I wanted our new baby to be able to see the tape later and see how excited we were and how he/she came into the world. (At that time we didn't know if it was a he or a she). SHE was our first born and we were so excited - and truthfully without that tape I do not think that our case would have gone as well as it did. Parent's have every right to video the milestones in their lives - the biggest day of their lives - and share it if they want to. I would love to see what happened on the day I was born - how cool would that be to see what my Mom and Dad looked like and what I looked like as a newborn baby. To take away videos during delivery is just an excuse to take away the proof....
Christy

[claudia]

I, personally, did not want any of my births videotaped. So it was not an option for us. However, I know lots of people who did and often watch those videos...they can be a source of great joy.

The fact that they become exhibit A... duh... How about the doctors actually want to END BIRTH TRAUMA?? If that ever entered into their minds, they wouldn't mind the videos, they would use them to TEACH AND LEARN how to deliver babies without injuring them.

We were lucky that our doctor screwed up so mercilessly, because he held the hammer and supplied the nails on his coffin.

Just what we needed as head of the AMA--an ob!!

claudia

[CW1992]

They have surveilence cameras in drug stores and quick shops and everywhere else to watch is going on - even my 'neighborhood Wal-mart' has a camera set up in the parking lot - but it makes no sence that a hospital room or ER and so on would not WANT to see what goes on for the safety of their PATIENTS, but a drug store or Wal-mart does care????? The more I think about this..... it just is so wrong.
Christy

[dmom]

Lisa,

You're right. This is outrageous. It's all about doctors covering their rears. What else is new? We're just the dumb mothers. Not the ones with the big-time lobbyists and contributors to state reps and congressmen - not the ones with the media on their side - just the ones who have to pick up the pieces after these jerks injure our children.

I had a thought .... when denied the chance to bring a videocamera into the delivery room, how about if fathers take BIG BLACK NOTEBOOKS and PENS into the delivery room and take notes on everything?!?!? It's not the same as pictures, but it would have the same intimidating effect on the staff that their every move was being documented. Or is that too Orwellian?

Feeling crabby today. Sorry.

Janet

[TNT1999]

Personally, I didn't want my husband, who would've otherwise willingly done it, to videotape the birth. I think that the hospital didn't allow it anyway though. Of course, in hindsight, I wish we did have a tape. I wonder about audiotaping births though. What complaint can they make about an audiotape? Plus, it would tell a good story just hearing everything that was said, hearing the tone of voices in the room, and also pinpointing exactly how long it took for everything to occur. To me, an audiotape could be very helpful in a lawsuit. If they do allow audiotaping, you could either bring in a cassette recorder or just bring in a camcorder that wasn't facing the patient / delivery personnel. Had I thought about it, I definitely wouldn't have minded having an audiotape. Oh well, too late now, for us anyway. I think everyone should pass on the idea to friends/family though. It's worth a try.

~Tina