The Telltale Tape . . .

It’s true: the camera never lies, especially in hospital delivery rooms. And while no one will doubt the educational value of videotapes made for clinical purposes, should taping of events like childbirth be allowed for memorabilia’s sake?

Thanks to a couple of high-profile lawsuits, some hospitals have begun enacting policies banning video cameras from delivery rooms. Some physicians have gone a step further and
no longer allow taping of ultrasound exams. Others compromise with their patients, and allow the tape to roll once the delivery is over.

But what’s a physician to do if he or she delivers babies in a hospital that allows videotaping? After all, some hospitals encourage the practice by marketing services that allow new parents to send video to others via e-mail, straight from the delivery room.

In a study from the University of Iowa Medical School (1998), 40 percent of obstetricians said they had prevented patients from videotaping births, and 80 percent of those said it was for legal reasons. How can the physician successfully balance the need for patient safety with the wishes of the parents?

As a matter of policy in your practice, disallow all videotaping in the delivery room until the birth is over and mother and baby are doing well. Emphasize that running a video camera will interfere with the delivery of the baby, especially if an emergency develops.

Simply stating that fact should deter many parents from rolling film during the birthing process. If a parent cannot be dissuaded, or if you elect to allow videotaping, you can still reduce your liability risk.

If you decide to allow video cameras in the delivery room, develop guidelines for when and where it is appropriate to videotape. Discuss these guidelines with the parents, and include a release form for them to sign, indicating that they agree to abide by your rules when labor begins.

As with all other patient safety matters, effective communication is key to obtaining full cooperation. By clearly explaining their videotaping policies and the safety concerns they address, physicians should be able to avoid hurt feelings and resentment while reducing risk in the delivery room.