The birth of a child is one of the most amazing and monumental events in a person’s life. Naturally, some parents want to memorialize the moment of their child’s birth by filming the birth. However, certain hospitals prevent parents from filming their child’s birth. Here are some reasons for this policy:
Potential Liability for the Hospital
The primary reason a hospital may prohibit parents from filming their child’s birth is liability. Video footage of a medical procedure could be used as evidence to establish fault and liability if anything goes wrong.
Medical professionals understand that anything can go wrong during labor and delivery. Even a smooth delivery can be chaotic and frightening. A natural procedure could appear to be dangerous to a layperson. A hospital may not be trying to hide medical negligence or medical errors, but they do not want births portrayed on film as something they are not.
Personal Consent to be Filmed
Another reason a hospital might prohibit filming a child’s birth is the personal privacy of the staff involved in the birth. Nurses, doctors, and other medical staff might not consent to being filmed.
Each person has the right to decline to be on camera. Thus, the hospital might deny a parent the right to film their child’s birth if the people attending the mother and baby do not want to be filmed.
Interference With Care
Trying to record a birth may disrupt the care given to the mother and the child. An excited parent may get in the way during labor and delivery. A few seconds of delay could have catastrophic outcomes in an emergency.
Options for Filming Your Child’s Birth in Atlanta, GA
If you want to film your child’s birth, you should research your options immediately. The sooner you begin, the more likely you will be able to work out the details to film your child’s birth.
First, meet with the hospital to determine if it will allow parents to film their child’s birth. Hospitals have different policies. While the hospital might allow parents to film a vaginal delivery, they may not allow video of C-sections.
Second, obtain consent from your physician to film the birth. Even though a hospital might allow you to video your child’s birth, your doctor may decline your request. Also, determine how to obtain the personal consent from the other healthcare professionals who assist the doctor.
Is Video of a Birth Necessary to File a Birth Injury Claim in Georgia?
In some situations, a video could be used as evidence in a birth injury case. However, a video is not required to pursue a birth injury claim.
In most cases, the parents do not have video evidence that a doctor or other medical staff were negligent or made mistakes. Instead, birth injury claims often rely heavily on medical evidence provided by the hospital, such as medical records and opinions from medical experts.
What Is a Birth Injury Claim?
Birth injuries occur because something happens during the pregnancy, labor, or delivery to cause harm or injury to the child and/or mother. Some birth injuries are preventable, but that is not always the case. Doctors and medical providers are required to meet a standard of care. However, even when medical providers meet this standard, things can go wrong.
If a doctor, hospital, or medical staff member is negligent or makes a medical error, they may be held liable for injuries and damages caused by their actions. A birth injury claim seeks compensation for economic and non-economic damages caused by things such as:
- Failing to monitor the mother or child
- Misusing medical equipment and devices, including vacuum extractors and forceps
- Failing to recognize common risk factors
- Medication and anesthesia errors
- Communication and chart errors
- Failing to order a C-section when necessary
- Ignoring signs of fetal distress
If you suspect that a doctor or hospital is responsible for your child’s birth injuries, seek legal advice.
Contact the Atlanta Law Firm of Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you or a close one have suffered from medical malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia, please call Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers at (770) 390-7550 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation today.
We proudly serve in Fulton County.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
2 Ravinia Dr NE Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346