Audio/Video Recording Policy

Swedish Medical Center recognizes some families wish to document their birthing experience through the use of video or audio recording. Swedish can honor that request only if we can ensure that recording respects the personal and workplace privacy of our staff and does not interfere with the safety of patients, family members or employees.

It is important to discuss your desires to record the childbirth process with your physician as soon as possible. He or she can answer your questions about the recording and consent requirements and how the process works.

Swedish Medical Center will permit audio and video recording of the birthing experience when all of the procedures below are agreed to and followed:

1. The patient or his or her legal guardian must consent prior to recording. Consent must be noted in the patient’s medical record or on the consent form.

2. Each medical, nursing or other health-care provider present during the labor or delivery must consent verbally or in writing prior to recording.

3. All recording equipment must be battery-operated, self-contained and portable to ensure that there are no hazards to personnel and/or family members from external cords, wires or related equipment. Tripods and detached light sources are prohibited. (All recording equipment is the responsibility of the patient or the patient’s family. Swedish shall not be responsible for any damage to or theft of recording equipment, or for any injury resulting from the use of such equipment.)

4. The operator of the recording equipment must respect and promptly comply with instructions from medical personnel to discontinue recording at any time. Failure to comply with these requests or conditions may result in removal from the vicinity.

5. Recording is not permitted during the placement of regional and/or general anesthesia, or during certain other services, as determined by the attending physician. Recording will be confined to the nonsterile field during operative procedures. Recording will not include anesthesia, patient or fetal monitors.

Swedish Medical Center has the right to make and retain a copy of any recording made within the facility. A recording will not be considered part of the patient’s medical record.

Swedish Medical Center will take reasonable steps to support and facilitate a patient’s request, but cannot guarantee that conditions for recording will be met in any particular case. Final decisions whether recording will be permitted will be made by the medical and/or nursing staff present during the labor and delivery.