Celebrity birth calls for hospital statement

January 12th, 2015

For those of us who keep abreast on hospital issues, as well as pop culture, the two topics that are seemingly worlds apart have meshed with the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, child of rapper and part owner of New Jersey Nets, Jay-Z, and his wife, Grammy award winning singer and actress Beyoncé.

According to reports, the couple gave birth to Blue Ivy, their first child, on Saturday at Lenox Hill hospital in New York City. Rumors started as soon as Beyoncé was admitted to the hospital, including unscrupulous reports that the couple paid $1.3 million to “rent out” the entire maternity wing of the Brooklyn hospital, which reportedly left other laboring mothers out in the cold. Other reports insisted that parents were unable to visit their newborns in the NICU because the couple’s security detail blocked off access. Another couple claims their rights were violated by overbearing security for the celebrity baby while the father was forced to wait to see his newborn twins.

Lenox Hill Hospital put a swift end to the rumors with a statement indicating that not only did the couple not “rent out” the maternity ward, but no other parents or family members were affected by the birth of Blue Ivy. Additionally, the hospital insists that patient safety and privacy is their main concerns, not the comfort of celebrities.

Part of the statement, issued by hospital executive director Frank Danza reads, "Lenox Hill Hospital takes patient privacy and safety very seriously. And while we congratulate the Carter family on the birth of their child, we value the loyalty of ALL of our patients and always strive to ensure a positive experience, knowing that the birth of a child is a wonderful moment producing memories that last a lifetime."

Other hospitals can learn lessons from the way Lenox Hill handled working with the rich and famous. An article that appears in Same Day Surgery has provided a checklist of what to do differently, and how to deal with celebrities. The checklist includes ensuring staff members are not “star struck,” safeguarding the privacy of medical records, and the use of additional security measures as needed.

Through all the rumors, speculation and misinformation, the number one lesson to be learned appears to be to treat all patients with the same dignity and respect, no matter how much fame and fortune they have.