NZ hospitals reject Aussie filming ban

NZ men can be trusted not to get in the way, says Mary Anne Gill. Photo / Thinkstock

Video cameras are being banned by birthing suites in some hospitals in Australia worried about legal repercussions, staff privacy and unnecessary distractions.

A boom in video recording devices, such as mobile phones, is forcing hospitals to develop protocols on the filming of births - and many are choosing to ban it.

The bans have drawn a mixed reaction from mothers, with many saying it should be a woman's right to have the birth of their child filmed if they wish.

New Zealand men are less intrusive and hospitals the Herald spoke to said there were no plans for a similar ban here.

Waikato DHB communications director Mary Anne Gill said the board did not allow filming of caesareans because they were a surgical procedure.

"But we're as open as we can be. Birth is such a joyful event we need to be as understanding as we can," she said.

Ms Gill said New Zealand men could be trusted not to make a nuisance of themselves, particularly with the guidance of a midwife.

"They are able to gently tell people that some part of it may be inappropriate to film.

"The Melbourne issue might be around the inappropriate filming of some parts of birth. I've given birth three times and there are some things I wouldn't want anybody to film."

A month ago the Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne reported almost A$20 million ($26 million) was paid in secret from court settlements in 2009 to families whose babies suffered bungled births in Victoria's public hospitals.

Obstetrics accounted for more compensation payouts than any other field of medicine.

Australian medical indemnity insurer Avant advises against allowing video cameras into the delivery suite.

Claims general manager Lisa Clarke said this advice was not only motivated by concerns over footage being used as evidence if something went wrong. She said bigger concerns included the potential for filming to distract staff.

Invasion of staff privacy was an issue, as was the inability of a cameraman father to properly support the mother.

Melbourne hospitals to ban filming during delivery include the Royal Women's, Sunshine, Sandringham and the Freemason's.

Auckland and Counties Manukau District Health Boards confirmed that the filming of births was not causing any problems.