Permission to Take Pictures?

[snegron]

I wonder why the act of videotaping or photography would concern hospitals? After all, if they follow procedures correctly they should have nothing to hide in front of a jury. I don't think they could claim any proprietary defense because they have no copyright ownership over the delivery procedure. I still think their main reason for not allowing any visual recording is because it is too easy for them to have a bully lawyer persuade a jury with legal and medical terminology. After all, a picture is worth more than a thousand words and if a jury could see the truth of what happened there would be no slick talk that would help cover up any wrongdoing. I don't think that it is to protect the privacy of the patient because if a patient consents there should be no problem. Also, all the patient's allegedly private information is given to nomedical personnell like debt collectors if he or she fails to pay the bill on time.

Photography and videotaping would keep public servants honest. Think of the police. They have video cameras in their patrol cars and videotape every traffic stop. Not to mention they photograph victims and their injuries to have an accurate depiction in court. The ethical question is that if someone has nothing to hide, why fear the camera?

 

[copake_ham]

I wonder why the act of videotaping or photography would concern hospitals? After all, if they follow procedures correctly they should have nothing to hide in front of a jury. I don't think they could claim any proprietary defense because they have no copyright ownership over the delivery procedure. I still think their main reason for not allowing any visual recording is because it is too easy for them to have a bully lawyer persuade a jury with legal and medical terminology. After all, a picture is worth more than a thousand words and if a jury could see the truth of what happened there would be no slick talk that would help cover up any wrongdoing. I don't think that it is to protect the privacy of the patient because if a patient consents there should be no problem. Also, all the patient's allegedly private information is given to nomedical personnell like debt collectors if he or she fails to pay the bill on time.

Photography and videotaping would keep public servants honest. Think of the police. They have video cameras in their patrol cars and videotape every traffic stop. Not to mention they photograph victims and their injuries to have an accurate depiction in court. The ethical question is that if someone has nothing to hide, why fear the camera?

I generally agree that you SHOULD be allowed to tape the birth of your child - but it is certainly w/in the rights of the hospital to prohibit it. Normally I'm of the school that believes "that it is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission."

But perhaps in this instance seeking permission from the doctor beforehand might have worked to overrule an overbearing attending nurse.

BTW: did you get a model release from the baby?

 

[firecracker]

Photography and videotaping would keep public servants honest. Think of the police. They have video cameras in their patrol cars and videotape every traffic stop. Not to mention they photograph victims and their injuries to have an accurate depiction in court. The ethical question is that if someone has nothing to hide, why fear the camera?

Some hospitals fear that there maybe lawsuits if the patients die due to some surgetical errors are that are caught on tape. But that's exactly what's needed in sometimes.

 

[Nancy]

I'm a nurse, and if I was assisting a delivery I'd probably choose to pretend I didn't see the camera. A birth is a monumental event and certainly worthy of being caught on film. I could see where they might ask for the camera to be turned off if there were complications. Fortunately I don't work in labor and delivery.
I work with post op patients though and recently had a patient who was struggling to take a photo of his knee incision while in bed and propped up on his elbow. I was more than happy to take the photo for him when he asked for some assistance. It's the first and only time I've ever used a camera phone!

 

[Mike Té]

...at the pool...

I was at the local pool for swimming lessons for my kids, 6 out of the 8 days they went. I took along my Mamiya 645 on a monopod and shot a few rolls of my guys.

On three occasions, a different staff member came up and said, "Just so you know, you're allowed to take pictures here as long as they're only of your own kids".

Of course, that was what I was doing. If I'd wanted to take some shots of, say, the lifeguard course going on at the same time, I'd have asked permission. I was, as usual, being careful not to have my camera pointing at any girls' bums while I was not shooting (which paradoxically means that one has to be aware of where all the bums are in order to avoid them....).

So, I'm wondering, since the Mamiya is hardly inconspicuous, could that have been an issue? If I'd taken my little Minox B, would as many staff members have noticed and said anything? No one hears mirror whack from a Minox. Also, you can get a Minox right angle finder for those true spy camera "around the corner" shots.

 

[benjiboy]

I was fortunate enough to watch the birth of both my sons because they were born at home, I never had any desire to photograph their births at the time, and don't think my wife would have wanted to (although we never discussed it) but even after they have grown up I still remember it, as if it was yesterday.
I can understand that medical professionals could have issues with photography in delivery rooms, and think it would be good policy to ask permission first.

 

[gr82bart]

Some hospitals fear that there maybe lawsuits ...snip.

American hospitals. Let's call a spade a spade. Lawyers, politicians and bureaucrats are unfortunately taking logic away from daily life.

Regards, Art.