Photography in an operating theatre?

I know someone who works in a hospital and they've offered to ask if i can photograph an operation (obviously with the doctor's and patients consent, etc) for my photography project. I was wondering though, what kind of radiation do they use to sterilize equipment and would I need to have my camera sterilized? I know they do it offsite, so would I have to send it in the day before of whatever. Also, would it even be safe to radiate my camera (nikon d90 digital slr) or would it ruin it?

I would be surprised if you could get consent from the doctor, patient and hospital. There's major liability issues here.

I don't think you'll get permission. It would raise lots of issues - like patient confidentiality. You would need the patient's permission.

Okay first of all you can't and will not need to sterilize your cam before or after you simply don't put in down. They don't use radiation. Of you needed to sterilize your cam i may only be done using gas which takes all night to do anything else would destroy your cam. You will not need to get patients consent because first of all you won't be taking the patient photo as they will be completely covered by drapes. The doctor will have to know, you will have to be spot trained on how to maneuver around the or that you don't contaminate anything. You don't have to worry about infection as long as it doesn't touch anything, which you can't touch practically nothing anyway. It seems that the person who asked you wasn't an OR employee because you wouldn't have to even ask.