The photography of stillborn children and neonatal deaths

Abstract

When the Department of Medical Photography first became involved in assisting the Maternity Unit to photograph stillborn children, numbers were expected to be low, and so arrangements were very ad hoc Following an investigation into the rationale for taking photographs, what their intended use was and how the system was operating, it became obvious that little thought had been put into the photography side of a potentially very sensitive operation.

The procedure was thus streamlined and is presented here as being more carefully controlled, more professional and much more effective. Owing to this the Department of Photography has become an invaluable and esteemed part of the Health Authority's neonatal bereavement counselling service.