Late last week, Jay-Z reportedly paid Lennox Hill Hospital more than one million dollars to redecorate and have access to an executive birthing suite. Far from the first celebrity to have gone big for the birth of his child, Jay-Z and Beyonce’s accommodations have drawn more scrutiny than most however because the couple brought along their own security guards who have since been accused by some parties of denying entry to other fathers who wanted access to their own recently born children.

A spokesman for Lennox Hill Hospital told The New York Daily News that the facility’s own security was in charge during Beyonce’s stay and that any reports to the contrary are false. He went on to say that all the amenities the couple received were not special privileges as a result of the pair’s celebrity statuses but rather special privileges as a result of their willingness to pay. Apparently, everything they received, including the food and privacy, is available to all families with the available funds.

To some, the cushy surroundings the pop star gave birth in are unfair and a clear indication of why our medical system needs to change. To others, the comfort she received was completely legitimate given that she and her husband paid a ton of money for the privilege. Exactly where the moral truth lies is complicated. Because of big spenders, Lennox Hill Hospital is able to keep costs down for others, but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s a clear gap between the services individual patients receive. Further complicating the issue is the general public interest surrounding the birth. Without extra security, it’s not only possible but perhaps likely someone would have tried to take a picture of the newborn or invaded her parent’s privacy in some other way.

What do you think? Should Beyonce have gotten special treatment at the hospital? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…



For more questions of the day, head here.