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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Live TV birth branded 'intrusive' | Live TV birth branded 'intrusive' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A broadcaster's plan to screen the birth of a child live on TV would be "intrusive" for all of those involved, a medical body has warned. | |
| The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said Five's Birth Night Live could disrupt the "calm environment" the patient deserved. | |
| "Predicting the outcome of any labour is difficult", the organisation said. | |
| Five promised to "immediately withdraw" if there was the "slightest indication" of any danger to a mother or her child. | Five promised to "immediately withdraw" if there was the "slightest indication" of any danger to a mother or her child. |
| "The programme is intended as a celebration of childbirth," the channel said in a statement. | "The programme is intended as a celebration of childbirth," the channel said in a statement. |
| "We take our responsibility extremely seriously and do not wish to interfere with normal procedures, but we are not shying away from showing that childbirth is also unpredictable." | "We take our responsibility extremely seriously and do not wish to interfere with normal procedures, but we are not shying away from showing that childbirth is also unpredictable." |
| 'Pioneering operations' | 'Pioneering operations' |
| Several women will be monitored in the run-up to the programme in the hope that one of them will give birth during the two hours on-air. | Several women will be monitored in the run-up to the programme in the hope that one of them will give birth during the two hours on-air. |
| Gabby Logan is hosting Five's live coverage this Sunday evening | |
| However, presenter Gabby Logan will have a range of other material to draw on, including interviews with celebrities about related experiences, for the live broadcast from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. | However, presenter Gabby Logan will have a range of other material to draw on, including interviews with celebrities about related experiences, for the live broadcast from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. |
| "During the programme we will be highlighting a number of stories of women giving birth to babies who would not be alive if it weren't for pioneering operations performed whilst in the womb," Five said. | "During the programme we will be highlighting a number of stories of women giving birth to babies who would not be alive if it weren't for pioneering operations performed whilst in the womb," Five said. |
| But Richard Warren, the honorary secretary of the college, argued that a woman who is giving birth "should do so in a calm environment where she feels safe". | But Richard Warren, the honorary secretary of the college, argued that a woman who is giving birth "should do so in a calm environment where she feels safe". |
| "All hospitals make every effort to ensure that women have no external stress factors. | "All hospitals make every effort to ensure that women have no external stress factors. |
| "This is not possible if a full film crew is present in the delivery room recording every event as it unfolds," he said. | "This is not possible if a full film crew is present in the delivery room recording every event as it unfolds," he said. |
| 'Unduly risky' | 'Unduly risky' |
| The programme had the potential "for influencing the woman's experience and the outcome as well as being intrusive for the hospital staff", Mr Warren said. | The programme had the potential "for influencing the woman's experience and the outcome as well as being intrusive for the hospital staff", Mr Warren said. |
| The college, which advises the government on healthcare issues, aims to "improve and maintain proper standards" and produces guidelines "for appropriate practice and procedures" during childbirth. | |
| The National Childbirth Trust also criticised the programme. | The National Childbirth Trust also criticised the programme. |
| Chief executive Belinda Phipps said: "While broadcasting a birth on television may have an educational function, we feel broadcasting the programme live is irresponsible, unnecessary and unduly risky." | Chief executive Belinda Phipps said: "While broadcasting a birth on television may have an educational function, we feel broadcasting the programme live is irresponsible, unnecessary and unduly risky." |
| Sunday's broadcast is not the first of its kind. | Sunday's broadcast is not the first of its kind. |
| In 2001, five children were born live on US TV on an ABC programme called Super Baby Tuesday. | In 2001, five children were born live on US TV on an ABC programme called Super Baby Tuesday. |
| But Five claimed it would be the first time it had been attempted in the UK. | But Five claimed it would be the first time it had been attempted in the UK. |
| The show is to feature "the inevitable anxieties, the incredible dramas, the miracle of modern medical techniques, but above all the amazing joy a new birth brings", said Alex Sutherland, the head of live factual events at Five. | The show is to feature "the inevitable anxieties, the incredible dramas, the miracle of modern medical techniques, but above all the amazing joy a new birth brings", said Alex Sutherland, the head of live factual events at Five. |