It seems like every mother in the United States has a __delivery story–__and I'm not talking about the drama that went down the moment you felt the first contractions. I'm talking about hospital and cesarean vs. vaginal birth drama. Once upon a time it used to be that every woman had a baby naturally and in extreme situations an emergency, a C-section was ordered. But some years ago everything changed. Jennifer Goodall, a mother of three, wanted to have her fourth child naturally, but when faced with the situation the medical body and the hospital threatened her with a C-section with or without her consent.
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Basically the doctors at Bayfront Health Port Charlotte Hospital told Goodall that having her fourth child vaginally would put the baby's life in serious danger. Without even giving her a choice, the hospital threatened to denounce her to the State Department of Children and Families if she fought the decision or refused the procedure. What? I think these doctors went too far! After all, a pregnant woman should be able to decide, don't you think? And doctors have to abide by that decision, but bring up the risks NOT force moms-to-be into procedures they don't want!
So the pregnant mom sued the hospital and the court sided with the hospital in this case. The judge ruled that an expectant mother didn't have the "right to compel a physician or medical facility to perform a medical procedure in the manner she wishes against their best medical judgment." Unbelievable!
Obviously Goodall's story generated some buzz because as patients, we have the constitutional right to decline any surgery and C-sections are part of that group. Basically this poor mom and many other women in this country are bullied into having C-sections even though there is nothing wrong with them or the baby. It just seems that the surgery is better business for the hospital. If you find yourself in a situation like this make sure your voice is heard and learn everything you have to about a safe birth.
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