I had a woman/friend very passionate Christian who had severe fetal distress in labour who refused cs suggestions because she believed God would care for her if she had faith. The doctor was very aggressive and tried all he could to find a legal way to force her into a cs. Risk management were called in (3am) and they could not do anything but get custody of the baby once it was born. This was a situation I had not faced before and was caught between my role as friend midwife support in keeping the doctors away ( this was what she wanted from me) and my own fears for her baby who was at times sitting on 40-60bpm for two or three minutes then back up to 180-190 etc. We have been able to talk honestly about our feelings hers her husbands and my own and I have learnt that while I cannot say I would do anything differently (as in supporting the apparent need for emerg cs) I would move on quicker once she made it clear that she would not agree to help her labour and birth which is what she did (once the doctors were asked to leave the room and we all 'got back into' the labour). What made me accept her choice and move on to supporting her was when the doctor called in legal people it find a way to force her which thankfully was not in their realm of power and I fear the day they will. Although it would not be my choice I do not have more invested in her child's wellbeing than her. Her son is doing well by the way, constructed in the debrief 'us professionals' had as being lucky and to her as being a result of her faith. I do not yet know where I situate myself (as a perosn with no 'faith' in religious doctrines) but I can see that luck versus intuition or faith is very passionatly argued by both 'sides'. Also I passionately support women's right to there own bodily autonomy regardless of what I or others might choose. Belinda
----- Original Message ----- From: "Honey Acharya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 1:40 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] patient rights > Leanne wrote "However, I'm pretty sure that, legally speaking, no-one can > *force* you to have a C-section. Does anyone know whether this is right or > not? > While we're on the topic, does anyone know what complications usually result > in C-sections, and what patient rights are re refusing a section?" > > As far as I know you have the right to refuse anything you don't want and > nothing should be done to you without your permission. (I hate the stories > of episiotomy done without permision and waters broken without asking). If > it was the US you might be charged if you chose not to have a c-section and > the baby died, as in one US case a few months back. > > We had a women here recently who was having a VBAC (not breech) and had to > negotiate what she wanted with the Hospital. They have policy of having > continuous monitoring and canula in the hand when you are "Trial of scar". > She said she was happy to have monitoring every hour but refused to be > strapped continously to it and the Ob made her sign a waiver saying that > they had discussed all the risks etc She had a wonderful VBAC but really had > to work to get what she wanted and to prepare herself for it. > Many women don't even realise they have a choice with alot of the care they > get. The women I meet here don't even consider having a vaginal breech birth > because the doctors just book them in for a c-section. > > Honey > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "JoFromOz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 12:42 PM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] breech baby wisdom > > > > > > > > > > They probably were pushing for her to have a caesar...I'm booked in > > > with the Family Birth Centre at the Royal Womens in Melbourne, and > > > their hospital policy (for the whole hospital including the FBC, that > > > is) is that all breech births are immediate C-sections. > > > > > > However, I'm pretty sure that, legally speaking, no-one can *force* > > > you to have a C-section. Does anyone know whether this is right or not? > > > > > > While we're on the topic, does anyone know what complications usually > > > result in C-sections, and what patient rights are re refusing a section? > > > > > > Leanne XXX > > > > Leanne, I used to work at the RWH in Melbourne while I was training to > > be a Midwife. In my interview, one question they asked me was, if > > someone was in labour, and they needed an emergency c/s, and they didn't > > want one, what would you do? It turns out that you cannot force someone > > to have a c/s if they refuse one. In their example, they used a Somali > > woman, but I'm sure that would extend to any woman! > > > > If you were refusing a c/s for a breech, I'm sure they would make you > > sign something to waive your right to sue if anything happened though. > > > > HTH > > > > Jo > > > > > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
