Jan. 24, 2008

College offers preview of documentary “The Business of Being Born”

Morningside College will present a special preview of the documentary film “The Business of Being Born” at 7 p.m. January 28 in the Lincoln Center’s UPS Auditorium, 3627 Peters Avenue, on the college campus.

The film examines the birth culture in America and who benefits from the billion dollar birth business. A collaboration between actress Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein, the documentary premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival and was released this month in select theaters around the country.  The screening at Morningside is part of the college’s Academic and Cultural Arts Series and is free to the public.

According to Sharlene Georgesen, assistant professor of nursing at Morningside, the documentary includes interviews with a number of obstetricians and experts about the history, culture and economics of childbirth.

Georgesen said, “The film uncovers some surprising answers to the question: should most births be viewed as a natural process or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?”