Voyeurism at its worst: Pictures of woman delivering babies clicked and circulated in Kerala

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The News Minute| September 21, 2014| 6.00 pm IST Privacy no longer seems to be a concern for the rich and famous. It has become an issue for the common man as well. The development in technology and the easy availability of it at our dispense is no guarantee that we use it responsibly. In fact, if anything, many misuse technology intentionally, often trespassing into others' private spaces. Birthing is one of the most natural processes in life, thousands of women deliver babies across the world each day, and many people also choose to film the birthing of their children, which is a very personal choice. Some images of a woman giving birth to babies were being circulated on messaging platforms like WhatsApp in Kerala, but there were shot without permission. The Payyanur taluk hospital in Kannur district of Kerala saw many protests on Sunday after a young woman approached the police with a complaint that someone had taken pictures of her delivering triplets at the hospital. Though the pictures of the delivery has been doing the rounds on messaging platforms for some weeks, it was only on Sunday that the woman came across the pictures and recognised herself in them. She has lodged a complaint citing the pictures were taken without her permission and by someone unknown to her. The woman had given birth to triplets in July this year. Members of DYFI, Yuva Morcha and Youth congress staged protests outside the hospital. The State Health Minister has promised immediate enquiry. "The District Health officers have been asked to look into the issue. The police will try find where the pictures came from. Strict action will be taken," promised health minister V S Shivakumar. Member of human Rights Commission K E Gangadharan told Reporter TV that the act was a gross violation of human rights and action needs to be taken immediately. The pictures also have a doctor and nurse in the frame, and police suspect someone else in the hospital staff could have clicked them. This is a gross violation of privacy. Just because someone has access to a mobile phone and a camera does not give them the right to capture anything and everything we wish to, especially when it involves people, who have faces, being shot.

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